One of the greatest challenges in addressing environmental issues is that many of their consequences are invisible to the instigators. When pollution is invisible, it becomes easier to ignore. Light pollution is artificial light that washes out the glow of the stars. Sound pollution is harmful or unwanted sounds that interfere with daily activities. They are often overlooked as pollution, but the reality is that they hold real consequences on the ecosystem, animal/human health, and social equality.
These forms of pollution don’t just annoy animals – they are entirely reshaping ecosystems. Light pollution cripples the circadian rhythms in animals. Migratory birds are constantly colliding with buildings. Insects are drawn to artificial light which is contributing to the worldwide insect apocalypse where we do not even know the full extent of the consequences. Noise pollution has altered animal communication and led to a high increase in chronic stress which has reduced reproduction rates. Entire predator-prey have changed because animals have lost their way of hunting without sound.
Among humans, light pollution has disrupted pollution, caused an increased cancer risk, and has been linked to anxiety and depression. Noise pollution has caused chronic stress response among individuals and even more struggle from hearing loss. Chronic stress has caused an increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Noise has even started to affect our children by having cognitive impacts, damaging their learning and attention.
In low-income communities there is a noticeable inequality that haunts our society. In those areas, street lighting is poorly designed and homes are in closer proximity to highways, airports, and industrial zones – the biggest sources of light and sound pollution. In wealthier areas, there are typically quieter neighborhoods and more protections against these types of damages. Schools in noisy areas show worse academic outcomes and when noise complaints are submitted, they are often dismissed when they come from marginalized communities. These are all staples of environmental discrimination where the people face constant injustice. Even though the pollution is invisible, there is still visible inequality.
These pollutions are consistently ignored because it is hard to bring attention to something you cannot see. There is no dramatic “spill” that will immediately draw everyone’s attention. It has become normalized so much throughout our world to have constant noise and light that we have become desensitized to it all. Economic convenience has become prioritized over our wellbeing.
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