Light pollution harms community
Poorly-fitted security light could lead to crime.
Improper use of light is dangerous and a costly exercise to the society, says the chairperson of Pretoria Centre of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa, Johan Smit.
Speaking at the Friends of Colbyn Valley’s annual general meeting at Colbyn Bowling Club on Thursday, Smit said improper installation of light reduced safety and security.
“The badly-installed artificial light creates shadows which criminals can use to hide and it blurs visibility at night.”
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Smit made several demonstrations to prove his point of view.
He said inappropriate use of light, which he referred to as light pollution, also caused danger to human health as it arguable caused cancer and prevented the body from resting.
“If you are exposed to a high frequency of light, the body is unable to get proper rest at night and this probably causes among others, headache, hypertension and cancer, Smit said.
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He advised the gathering to use light when necessary, to determine and direct the right amount of light required and eliminate blurs and shadows caused by improper installation.
“If you see the bulb, the light is fitted wrongly.”
Smith said light pollution was a wastage of mineral resources and a setback to wise expenditure.
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“People should refrain from positioning light to the sky as this contributes to the light pollution. It leads to wasteful energy and excessive cost of electricity.”
The meeting formed was part of a Friends of Colbyn Valley open night and those in attendance were treated to a tour of the night sky, with the assistance of the telescopes set up on the lawns of club.
Colbyn Valley Nature Area is now formally a protected area, having been proclaimed as the Colbyn Wetland Nature Reserve in June 2014.
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Friends of Colbyn Valley is affiliated to the Wild and Environment Society of South Africa, a community-based group working to ensure the conservation and sound management of this reserve.
The valley is home to a unique urban wetland incorporating a 3000-year old peatland.
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