Did you know light pollution is one of the reasons why women in developed nations are 5 times more likely to get breast cancer? That’s only one of the many issues caused by the bright lights in today’s cities and towns.
This short video explores the hidden costs of light pollution:
More problems caused by light pollution include the disrupted migratory, breeding, hunting, and sleeping patterns of many animals. Far off lights can easily disorient migrating birds, making them lose their flight patterns or start their migrations too early. Bright lights along our shorelines distract sea turtle hatchlings from their natural paths to the ocean.
Chronic fatigue in humans, along with migraines and sexual dysfunction have been linked to higher levels of light exposure.
Not to mention how much bright lights detract from the night sky. Today’s starscapes are faint and dim compared to those of yesteryear.
How can we begin to reclaim the darkness? To start, be sure to turn your lights off when you don’t need them, and opt for lights with lower lumen outputs when possible. To learn about more ways to curb the effects of light pollution, check out the International Dark-Sky Association’s website here.
And a big thanks to InsuranceQuotes.org for bringing this video to our attention!