According to a recent study published on the website of the International Association for the dark sky (IDA) 80% of people live in areas with high light pollution. In Europe and the United States, it is even 99% of people. While most are polluted skies of Italy and South Korea, at least then Australia and Canada. Even in the Czech Republic is light smog widespread. According to experts in the country are not seen naturally dark sky. The scattered light is manifested even tens of kilometers from major cities. Now in cities such as Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Liberec people are confronted with the highest concentration of light pollution. Conversely, the least light-polluted places in the Šumava, Beskydy, in the Jizera Mountains in the Czech Podyji or Switzerland.
Outdated public lighting and lighting decoration light smog worsen
Experts agree that the major source of light pollution are becoming outdated and poorly functioning public lighting. According svetelneznecisteni.cz site in the Czech Republic operates more than 1.3 million places of public lighting. Total energy consumption amounts to 700 GWh per year, which represents approximately two billion crowns annually. Another source of light pollution in addition to street lamps and various decorative lighting and lighting of important buildings and monuments in the city.
Presvetlena city cancels residents sleep
Towns reduces light smog from public light only very slowly. People who shines in the windows of bedrooms a public lamp, billboard or Christmas decorative lighting, have to regulate ourselves nightlight. To reduce light in the room is used to install blinds or shutters. "Demand for the installation of blinds and roller shutters in real estate in medium and large cities is increasing," said Lubomir trend Valenta (Lomax). "The ideal option are blackout systems that are automated and leave room for natural dawn. Thus helping to slow awakening of the organism, "said Valenta.
Quality sleep in a darkened room is very important for the production of the hormone melatonin, a sleep patterns human body and allows it to regenerate. "Currently growing problem associated with the impact of light pollution on human health is reading from smartphones or tablets at bedtime. Radiation from these devices is significantly represented by blue light component and these wavelengths significantly affect the level of the hormone melatonin, which regulates sleep and other metabolic processes, "said Michael Bittner of the Research Centre for toxic substances in the environment - RECETOX MU. When long-term poor quality of sleep in humans may erupt depression or other psychogenic illness. "A decrease in melatonin increases the risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity. These are typical diseases of civilization, a disease area where the night of shop windows, advertisements and street lights shining greatly, "said Bittner.
Source: tz, editorially modified