by Carrington M. Nye

Created on: February 21, 2008

Is light pollution contributing to cancer rates?

As of today, Thursday, February 21, 2008, there is insufficient data to claim that light pollution does indeed cause cancer or even higher cancer rates, for that matter. The most that has been proven [as far as human health is concerned] is the fact that bright lights hurt our eyes. Is there any adult who does not know this?

Light pollution aka photo-pollution aka luminous pollution has been studied for a number of years now and those that are anti-light pollution have been fighting it in the places where it occurs the most: Netherlands, large cities such as NY, LA, and Tokyo, to name a few.

Why is it that so many people have never heard of Light Pollution?
Don't be alarmed, until I read this debate on Helium, Today, I had never heard of it either. My first reaction was to laugh and the first words out of my mouth were:
Gee, what doesn't cause Cancer would be a better topic. That way we could each write down one word instead of an entire article.
And then some smarty pants will come back and say that our one word does so cause cancer and they have the proof!

Who hasn't been bothered by someone else's harsh lights from time to time? But to call it anything than annoying so far seems to be a bit ahead of the horse here.

Bright lights might hurt ones eyes; even I cannot argue with that, but until there are warnings on light bulbs everywhere, I just don't think we should all start panicking.

Stay calm, that lamp is not out to get you!

Sure, light pollution has caused untold masses some trouble when they want to star gaze, but if they choose to live the big city life, they know this going in. I've personally never been to L.A. but I've heard so much about the smog as well as overwhelming amount of city lights out there that even I'm aware that it isn't the ideal place to set up a telescope!

Look out! Never mind, I thought that lamp was sneaking up on you. Just my nerves, I guess.

Einstein was great, but luckily we don't need him for everything! Some things just make sense. But thanks to the International Dark Association, we will be educated whether we want to be or not.

We should be glad that this is the world's biggest crises now that all the wars have ended, world hunger has been eradicated and there is peace in the Middle East.

Whew! That was close.

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