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Light pollution
Reports from the Eco-Groups have shown that light pollution not only wastes energy but is also harmful towards the wildlife. "Wild life species have evolved on this planet with biological rhythms - changing that has profound effects", said Travis Longcore, a biogeographer with Urban Wildlands Group in Los Angeles.
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Impacts on Us
Constant exposure to man-made light may result in physical diseases such as cancer. Night lights can upset the production of melatonin, a brain hormone which resets your body clock. The decrease of production in noctournal melatonin can increase your danger of developing cancer, especially breast cancer. In a research conducted by Robert A. Hahn of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, it was found that cancer was much more prone in the sighted as compared to the blind. This is as light disrupts the production of melanin, and is detected by the eyes. The same women were asked to conduct another test, but on heart disease. This experiment showed that both the blind and sighted were equally prone to heart disease, yet not so when faced with breast cancer. Therefore, we concluding that cancer is a result of constant exposure to lights. Pregnant women may also give birth to premature babies due to artificial light in hospitals.
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Wildlife : Birds
The most affected wildlife by such pollution has to be the bird populations. Nocturnal birds rely on the moon and stars for navigation and will often become confused and collide into over-lit structures by mistaking it for the moon or star. Research studies by the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP), a Toronto organization, estimated that at least a 100million birds die from collision with manmade buildings yearly. In Hawaii, an endangered seabird species, the Newell's shearwater is especially susceptible. Fledglings are ditched at the Cliffside nests in October and November and rely on only their natural instincts and attraction to light to lead them to the horizons for their first flight. Disturbance from manmade lights often cause them to crash and drop from the sky.
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Wildlife : Sea turtles
Sea turtles are too at risk as bright lights discourage the females from coming ashore to nest while newly hatched turtles need a dark night sky to lead them to the sea. However, man-made lights often lead them away. Scientists have witnessed hatchlings cross parking lots, streets, and yards with bright porch lights. "Their reliance on light is so strong that they'll continue heading to a light source, even if it's an abandoned fire that burns them alive," says Blair Witherington, a Florida Marine Research Institute scientist who studies sea turtles. Confused hatchlings often die from fatigue, dehydration, predation or even being ran over by vehicles.
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Insects
Insects, are also victims to light pollution. Moths are compelled to bright lights. However, these lights can cost females the chance to attract males and also to reduce their energy. Also, depriving their larvae the appropriate standards for proper growth.
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Gas Emissions
Besides having adverse effects on the wildlife, light pollution still has its impacts. Coal and oil burning result in the emission of much carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides; which are a greenhouse gas, acid rain component and smog causing respectively. This contributes to air pollution.
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