The light pollution and the public health – a global issue

Abstract

TPS 782: Health effects of emf, radiation and light, Johan Friso Foyer, Floor 1, August 28, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Light pollution is the common name of various negative effects on eco-systems and human health found in artificial lighting (electro-magnetic emissions). Objective: The objective is to identify the harmful impact of the light pollution on the people’s health worldwide and Bulgaria. Methods: Several international research data and some conducted in Bulgaria have been used in this study. Result: The light pollution is confirmed by the analyses of satellite Earth observations - from 2012 to 2016, according to which the artificial illumination and brightness on the planet have increased with an intensity of around 2%. The most severe situation is observes in densely populated industrial areas in North America, Europe, Japan and other countries. In the United States and Europe, 99% of people cannot “feel” a natural night. In Bulgaria there are occasional publications related to the light pollution effect on the flora and fauna in the country and in the field of astronomy. When the day-night cycle is not disturbed, the human body produces naturally melatonin hormone. The latter has antioxidant properties, it is responsible for the sleep cycle, stimulates the immune system, lowers cholesterol and helps the thyroid gland, pancreas, ovaries and other functions. Night exposure to artificial light suppresses the production of melatonin. The risk of obesity, depression, sleep disturbances, diabetes and breast cancer increases. The brightness (light pollution) in big Bulgarian cities like Sofia, (3.30 mcd / m2), Plovdiv (3.10 mcd / m2) and Varna (3.04 mcd / m2) at night is 3 to 4 times smaller than in Lisbon (12.3 mcd / m2), New York (10.1 mcd / m2), London (9.91 mcd / m2), etc. Conclusion: Although light pollution rate in Bulgaria is lower, it is a major environmental and health problem that requires legislative measures. Key words: light pollution, electromagnetic emissions, environment, health, risk, problems.