The Effect of Light Pollution on Ecosystem and

Human Health
Natalie Buffo, Environmental Studies Program, California State
University Monterey Bay

What is Light Pollution & How Does it Affect You?

Upon hearing the term “light pollution,” people generally think of the narrow term
“astronomical light pollution.” In which, artificial light obscures the view of the night
sky, stars and planets from human gaze. However, light pollution has a largely
negative effect on human health and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; this type of
light pollution is named “ecological light pollution.”

Nocturnal artificial light has been shown to disrupt the “circadian clock,” the natural
24-hour day/night cycle. The circadian clock is known to affect physiological
processes in almost all organisms, including humans. Disruption of the circadian
clock has been linked to many medical disorders in humans including depression,
insomnia, cardiovascular disease and even cancer (Chepesiuk, 2009). Seemingly so,
artificial light also has a direct link to sleeping disorders as well. A study done by
Vanderbilt University suggests that constant artificial light exposure in neonatal
intensive care units could “impair the developing circadian rhythm of premature
babies” (Chepesiuk, 2009). Another study done by Harvard university epidemiologist
Eva S. Schernhammer and team found that there was a connection between people
that worked night shifts and cancer. The research suggests that there was a 35%
increase in the risk of colorectal cancer in nurses this worked night shifts at least
three times a month for fifteen years (Chepesiuk, 2009). Many aspects of physical
and mental health are reliant on the circadian rhythm, of which artificial light greatly

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and negatively impacts. It is calculated that only 40% of Americans live where it
becomes sufficiently dark enough for natural, nightly neurological processes to take
place (Chepesiuk, 2009).

Light Pollution & the Effect on Wildlife

Besides human health, ecological light pollution has a direct impact on wildlife.
Among many other forms, light pollution is one of the most rapidly increasing types
of environmental degradation (Falchi, et al., 2011). The chronic and/or periodically
increased illumination, unexpected changes in illumination, and direct glare of
artificial light can cause both animals’ disorientation or increased orientation
(Longcore & Rich, 2004). The increased illumination affects animals’ natural
behaviors like reproduction, foraging, migration, communication, and other natural
processes that are imperative for survival. Ambient illumination at night can both
attract and repulse creatures, disrupting their natural routines and putting them at
risk. The best example of this disruption is the disorientation of hatchling sea turtles
emerging from their nests. Under natural circumstances and without light pollution
from cities, hatchlings move away from areas of darkness and follow the reflection of
light from the ocean, allowing for a quick crawl to the ocean. With beachfront lighting
from city buildings, the hatchlings become disoriented as “the dark silhouettes that
would have cued movement are no longer perceived” (Longcore & Rich, 2004). Not
only this, but lighting also disrupts the
egg-laying behavior of adult female sea
turtles; unnatural changes in light
disrupt the natural instinct of nocturnal
animals. There are some animals that do
their hunting, mating, etc. during the
night. Artificial light can not only disrupt
these behaviors, but potentially blind the
animals whose eyes are specially adapted
for nightlife. Nightly artificial lighting
disrupts a countless number of species
and can even put some at risk for
survival.

The Influence of Light Pollution on Birds

Birds are especially sensitive to light and artificial illumination can greatly affect
birds’ natural processes and behavioral habits. Artificial light has been responsible
for the deaths of an extremely large number of migratory birds. Diurnal bird species,

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or birds that feed during the day, have been seen foraging at night in artificially
illuminated areas. Although this is beneficial for the diurnal bird species, it throws off
the natural balance of the prey items and the times in which the prey can reproduce
and survive as species (Longcore & Rich, 2004). In addition to unnatural foraging
patterns, artificial light can disorient the instinctual habits of birds. For example, the
northern mockingbird is known to sing in the day during mating seasons. The
influence of artificial light causes mockingbirds to sing at night, this can affect the
birds’ general fitness considering their natural behaviors and biological clock are
functioning in a different pattern.

There are also some studies to suggest that the light illuminated from nearby cities
can also affect birds’ decision on their nesting site. In a study conducted by
Johannes G. De Molenaar and team, it shows that a increased percentage of black-
tailed godwits chose to nest closer to artificial light than farther away. Although there
is not enough evidence to suggest a specific reasoning for the godwits’ choice, it is
speculated that the birds may have made this decision to be closer to insects
attracted to the light at night or it was perhaps simply more attracting to be near the
light. This can negatively affect the birds’ well-being considering that the nests are
now closer to the public, cities and roadways. The researchers in this study also
determined that birds nesting earlier in the year tended to chose site further away
from light, whereas birds
nesting later chose sites closer
to the light (De Molenaar, et
al., 2000). Arguably most
important of all the disrupted
behaviors, birds’ migratory
patterns are heavily
disoriented by artificial
illumination at night. Tall, lit
structures have cause the
deaths for various species of
migratory birds; the birds are
attracted to the brightly lit
structures and this later
results in a fatal collision with
the building. During migration
periods, some bird species travel in large groups. For example, there is a yearly
tribute to the fallen twin towers on September 11th. In which, dozens of 7,000-watt
bulbs are turned on in order to honor the victims of the attack. Between the year
2008 and 2016, around 1.1 million migrating birds were affected by this tribute,

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many of which become disoriented by the huge lit structure in their natural
migratory path and are seen circling the tribute for hours until exhaustion. Many of
the affected birds died as they did not have any more energy to continue the flight
while others were able to fly away as the sun rose (Kaplan, 2017).

What Can We Do?

In order to reduce light pollution and its effects on ecosystems, limits have been
proposed to regulate light at night and/or innovate new technologies that allow for
better alternatives to current light structures. There are already some light protection
policies in places like Italy, Chile, and Toronto, Canada that order areas to dim or
turn off lights at night (Hölker, et al. 2010). To help mitigate light pollution on a
smaller scale, one could take the personal responsibility of turning off lights at night
or contacting local government to ensure light fixtures and street lights are eco-
friendly and have appropriate shades to direct light to the ground. Artificial, nightly
illumination is a rapidly growing form of pollution, however it can be easily reduced if
addressed properly.

References:

Chepesiuk, R. (2009). Missing the dark: Health effects of light pollution.

Environmental Health Perspective, 117(1), A20-A27.

De Molenaar, J. G., Sanders, M. E., Jonkers, D. A. (2006). Road lighting and grassland birds:
Local influence of road lightning on a black-tailed godwit population. Ecological
Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting, (114-136).

Falchi, F., Cinzano, P., Elvidge, C., Keith, D., & Haim, A. (2011). Limiting the
impact of light pollution on human health, environment and stellar visibility.
Journal of Environmental Management, 92(10), 2712-2722.

Hölker, F., Moss, T., Griefahn, B., Kloas, W., Voigt, C., Henckel, D.,…Tockner, K.
(2010). The dark side of light: A transdiscoplinaru research agenda for light
pollution policy. Ecology and Society, 15(4) 13.

Kaplan, S. (2017, October, 2). New york’s 9/11 tribute mesmerizes birds – and might
help save them. The Washington Post. Retrieved from
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-
science/wp/2017/10/02/new-yorks-911-tribute-mesmerizes-birds-and-might- help-
save-them/?utm_term=.6581cd47af4d

Longcore, T., Rich, C., (2004). Ecological light pollution. Frontiers in Ecology and the
Environment, 2(4), 191-198.

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