The latest edition of the Global Map of Light Pollution shows that more than 80% of the world's population lives in light pollution, up to 99% of the U.S. and Europe. Now one-third of the world's people can no longer see the Milky Way and its bright stars are giving way In the growing number of artificial light.
By-product of economic development
When I was a little boy, I like to see the starry sky in the night sky Nowadays, Haoyue Starry sky has been hard to find in the city.Zhangzhang, who lives in Dongcheng District, Beijing, is constantly awakened by the constantly changing neon lights of the nearby buildings at night. Put on thick blackout curtains.
In recent years, with the development of the city, glass curtain wall, neon lights, all kinds of large-scale electronic screen and other light sources can be seen everywhere, especially in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and coastal cities, the problem of light pollution is more prominent Nightfall, landscape lighting, commercial neon lights, busy traffic lights, dazzling. Some light even into the sky, the night is like the day. People living in the city, the clock is disrupted, the work efficiency is low. Damage birds and insects and destroy the normal process of insect reproduction at night.
Can not hide the light pollution
Excessive light radiation has a negative impact on human life and production environment. Like air pollution, water pollution and noise pollution, environmental pollution has plagued major cities.
Beijing Tsinghua Tongheng Planning and Design Institute Institute of Light Environment, deputy director of Beijing Institute of controlled living Habitat Vice President Chen Haiyan told the "Life Times" reporter, light pollution is divided into two types of glass curtain wall and artificial lighting, such as daytime glass Reflections on the façade may cause serious disability glare to the driver and increase the probability of traffic accidents. Nighttime light pollution affects residents to rest and may also adversely affect plant growth.
Disturbing the circadian rhythm.Research shows that light pollution can change the behavior of plants, animals and humans.Almost all organisms need to go through the cycle of day and night, usually 24-hour cycle, known as the circadian rhythm.If the rhythm is broken, will Disrupt human metabolism, sleep and emotions, and may even cause disease.Surkec Institute of Biology, California, the study shows that even exposure to dim light can also lead to hamster melatonin reduce the impact of hamsters falling asleep, the long run will be affect health.
Resulting in a waste of energy. "Not known to the public, is the light pollution of the sky, resulting in increased brightness of the sky background, all the night lighting, need to increase the brightness, resulting in a tremendous waste of energy." Chen Haiyan said .Study pointed out that, Every year, the United States spends more than 30% of its electricity in outdoor lighting on the scattered light, equivalent to consuming 6 million tons of coal or 23 million barrels of oil annually.
Exacerbating environmental pollution.Researchers at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Society pointed out that light pollution slow down the digestion of several types of harmful substances in the atmosphere, exacerbating environmental pollution.
The key is to prevent
How to control the urban light pollution?
Improve awareness of prevention.Pollution does not exist visible pollutants, do not belong to the traditional pollution, the impact of the crowd is relatively small, personal differences are large, few people realize the dangers of light pollution, but do not know how to prevent.
Improve the relevant laws and regulations.Chen Haiyan said that many countries in Europe and the United States have a clear night lighting control regulations.China is also focused on the development of relevant norms on light pollution.From the measurement method to the standard, are added.For example, "Property Law" provides: 'Real Rights Owner They shall not dispose of solid waste in violation of state regulations and discharge harmful substances such as air pollutants, water pollutants, noise, light and electromagnetic radiation.
Strengthen the regulatory implementation. 'The specification has a certain amount of reserves, but the regulatory implementation is still relatively weak', Chen Haiyan said that the government should reasonably plan the night lighting of the region, time and color, try to avoid the implementation of lighting near the living area. Lighting to a reasonable choice of light source, lighting and cloth lamp program, try to use the light beam divergence smaller lamps and lamps in the shade to take or diaphragm measures to strictly limit the light pollution.
