Light pollution: Definition, Consequences, Human Knowledge, and Disclosure Strategies

Hellenic Open University, School of Applied Arts and Sustainable Design, 26335 Patras, Greece

^* Corresponding author: christina.skandali@ac.eap.gr, balafoutis.athanasios@ac.eap.gr

Abstract

Light pollution refers to the result of excessive and incorrectly targeted artificial lighting, which is observed in large cities and is mainly identified by the absence of starry skies. The purpose of this research is the interdisciplinary analysis of the effects of light pollution in various fields such as astronomy, ecology, environment, human health and wellbeing and the interaction between them. As light pollution has become more intense in recent years, the research also aims to explore the awareness of people on the phenomenon and the effect they believe it has on the various sectors affected. To explore the general knowledge of the world’s population regarding light pollution, a questionnaire was created and distributed to people around the world. A significant characteristic of the people involved is that they are not related to the subject or lighting in general. The analysis of the questionnaires provides with results on the correlation between all the above sectors affected by light pollution and recommends strategic solutions regarding its mitigation. Each society must become more conscious on the subject both individually, since each country has a different level of light pollution, but also collectively because it is an international issue that affects the environment. Also, people need to be aware of the problem and participate in the procedures for dealing with it.