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Abstract: Light pollution is a global environmental issue that affects photosensitive organisms. For instance, several researchers have recognized melatonin suppression in humans as a direct cause of long-term exposure to high artificial light levels at night. Others have identified low melatonin levels as a risk factor for a higher prevalence of hormone-sensitive cancer. This paper analyzes the association between light pollution, estimated as the emission analysis of satellite worldwide nighttime light collections from 1999 to 2012, and 25,025 breast and 16,119 prostate cancer events from 2003 to 2012. Both types of cancer increased during the study period, but light pollution increased in urban and peri-urban areas and decreased in rural areas. Cumulative light pollution during 5 years showed a positive association with breast cancer but not with prostate cancer. The association between light pollution and breast cancer persisted when adjusted to age-standardized rates with a mean increase of 10.9 events per 100,000 population-year (95% confidence interval 7.0 to 14.8). We conclude that exposure to elevated light pollution levels could be a risk factor for breast cancer in Slovakia. This work can interest researchers who study relationships between atmospheric pollutants and the growing cancer epidemic. The results and the methodology can be extrapolated to any country in the world if data is available.
Abstract: Insects around the world are rapidly declining. Concerns over what this loss means for food security and ecological communities have compelled a growing number of researchers to search for the key drivers behind the declines. Habitat loss, pesticide use, invasive species, and climate change all have likely played a role, but we posit here that artificial light at night (ALAN) is another important—but often overlooked—bringer of the insect apocalypse. We first discuss the history and extent of ALAN, and then present evidence that ALAN has led to insect declines through its interference with the development, movement, foraging, and reproductive success of diverse insect species, as well as its positive effect on insectivore predation. We conclude with a discussion of how artificial lights can be tuned to reduce their impact on vulnerable populations. ALAN is unique among anthropogenic habitat disturbances in that it is fairly easy to ameliorate, and leaves behind no residual effects. Greater recognition of the ways in which ALAN affects insects can help conservationists reduce or eliminate one of the major drivers of insect declines.
Abstract: Artificial light at night (ALAN) affects biodiversity conservation through its impacts on spatio-temporal distribution patterns of species, in particular bat species. The development of this threat underlines the urgency to adopt lighting practices (characteristics) that have the least impact on species, in particular the most vulnerable species still present in semi-natural areas. It is therefore crucial to better assess the relative effects of the different light parameters for a wide variety of species. Our study investigates the relative effects of streetlights characteristics, i.e. height, lamps type (HPS, LED), illuminance, and the distance to a streetlight on the activity of a variety of species (15) according to their flight traits. We compared bat species activity in lit and dark conditions along streets and in hedges at less than 200 m away from streetlights of various characteristics, in a Mediterranean protected area. Lighting had contrasting effects on the activity of clutter and aerial bat species, with a strong negative effect on clutter species (90% reduction of bat activity), half of which are strictly protected. Illuminance particularly affected their activity. Among the possible management options to reduce the effect of light pollution at night (reduction of light intrusion by modifying the height of street lamps, lighting intensity, spectral composition), the removal of light sources, or at least the reduction of illuminance, seems to be the most effective option. Due to its strong impact on highly protected species, we urge the need to manage lighting, in particular in protected areas.
Abstract: Awareness of light as a pollutant is growing, and with emerging technologies our understanding of how light pollution uniquely impacts migratory species through mechanisms of negative or positive phototaxis, and at times physiological responses, has grown.Extinguishing and dimming lights is a first priority to reducing ecological impacts, but light can be modified when needed across multiple dimensions, including correlated color temperature or more holistic color spectra. Responses to light color and intensity are not uniform across taxonomic groups.Light pollution can affect nocturnal and diurnal animal migrants by disrupting their movements at various scales: at local scales through collisions with lit structures, at regional scales by altering stopover sites and the aerial connectivity of the night sky, and at macroscales through exposure to sky glow and altered phenology. Light pollution is a global threat to biodiversity, especially migratory organisms, some of which traverse hemispheric scales. Research on light pollution has grown significantly over the past decades, but our review of migratory organisms demonstrates gaps in our understanding, particularly beyond migratory birds. Research across spatial scales reveals the multifaceted effects of artificial light on migratory species, ranging from local and regional to macroscale impacts. These threats extend beyond species that are active at night – broadening the scope of this threat. Emerging tools for measuring light pollution and its impacts, as well as ecological forecasting techniques, present new pathways for conservation, including transdisciplinary approaches.
Abstract: Artificial light has been present in human life for decades but our knowledge of its effects is still insufficient. Lighting lets us be active longer, gives us a sense of security and provides aesthetic experiences. Despite all of these advantages, in urban areas artificial light also has a negative effects on the environment and human life. Although light pollution is one of the most common forms of anthropogenic environmental change, this phenomenon remains insufficiently investigated. The present work thus focuses on night sky brightness and artificial factors impacting the level of the phenomenon using Warsaw (Poland) and Fukuoka (Japan) as an example. The basis of the study is the new World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness. Moreover, we used image data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Day/Night Band and data from field research to analyse the primary artificial light characteristics in the two cities: illumination, colour temperature, peak wavelength, dominant wavelength, stimulation of photoreceptors, design of lighting fixtures and radiance. The results indicate that Warsaw (area: 517.2 km2; population: 1 777 972) is characterized by higher light pollution than Fukuoka (area: 343.5 km2; population: 1 554 229). Skyglow is primarily influenced by the number of light sources; however, local differentiation of the phenomenon depends on the spectral characteristics and design of lighting fixtures. Moreover, environmental features may affect light pollution through scattering, reflection and absorption. Outdoor lighting in Warsaw was characterized by a higher value of light illumination and greater stimulation of photoreceptors sensitive to long and medium waves. However, the lighting infrastructure in Fukuoka was also unsuitable, as it was characterised by high values of colour temperature and stimulation of photoreceptors sensitive to short waves and ganglion cells, which may be detrimental to the human body.
Abstract: The prevailing regulatory framework for light pollution control is based on establishing conditions on individual light sources or single installations (regarding features like ULOR, spectrum, illuminance levels, glare, …), in the hope that an ensemble of individually correct lighting installations will be effective to somehow solve this problem. This "local sources" approach is indeed necessary, and shall no doubt be enforced; however, it seems to be clearly insufficient for curbing the actual process of degradation of the night, and for effectively attaining the necessary remediation goals. In this paper we describe a complementary (not substitutive) 'red-lines' strategy that should in our opinion be adopted as early as possible in the policies for light pollution control. It is based on setting maximum values for absolute light pollution indicators and using linear models relating the indicators to the source emissions in order to establish the maximum light emissions compatible with these red-lines. This top-down approach seeks to set definite limits on the allowable degradation of the night, providing the methodological tools required for making science-informed public policy decisions and for managing the transition processes. Light pollution abatement should routinely be included as an integral part of any territorial management plan. A practical application case-study based on the night sky brightness at zenith is described to illustrate these concepts.
Abstract: One of the most important effects that railways have on the environment is noise pollution, notably in Europe. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the environmental efficiency of railways in 22 European countries, considering two factors; a country’s response in retrofitting their wagon fleet with more silent braking technology and the number of people affected by railway noise. The railway transport process efficiency is decomposed into assets and service efficiency. The additive decomposition network Data Envelopment Analysis (NDEA) approach is customised to account for intermediate and undesirable outputs. Results suggest that Estonia, Germany and Poland are overall environmentally efficient and that except for Finland, asset efficient countries are also service efficient; the inverse does not hold. Sensitivity analysis revealed that efficiency rankings are robust to alterations in the decomposition weight restrictions. This is the first study that uses DEA to incorporate the noise-pollution problem in railway efficiency measurement.
Abstract: Noise pollution is considered to be the third most hazardous pollution after air and water pollution by the World Health Organization (WHO). Short as well as long-term exposure to noise pollution has several adverse effects on humans, ranging from psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression, hypertension, hormonal dysfunction, and blood pressure rise leading to cardiovascular disease. One of the major sources of noise pollution is road traffic and the WHO reports that around 40 % of Europe’s population are currently exposed to high noise/sound levels. This study investigates sound levels in Dublin, Ireland before and after the lockdown imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis was performed using measured hourly data from 12 noise monitoring stations between January and May, 2020. More than 80 % of the stations recorded high sound levels for more that 60 % of the time before the lockdown in Dublin. However, a significant reduction in hourly average equivalent sound and hourly minimum sound levels was observed at all stations during the lockdown period and this can be attributed to reductions in both road and air traffic movements.
Abstract: The paper focuses on measuring and quantification of the negative externality of noise pollution generated by freight transport in the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic. The paper describes negative impacts and significance of noise externalities, whereas it is established that noise causes psychological and physiological harm to affected persons. A separate part of the paper is dedicated to the current status of the European legislation dealing with the issues of the negative externality of noise pollution, in particular Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Communication COM(2008) 435. The actual measurement of the total, average and marginal costs of noise pollution is implemented in line with the defined methodology and using expert studies defined in the paper. The measurement results show that the costs of the negative externality of noise pollution are high in both countries. According to authors’ calculations, the total costs of the negative externality of noise pollution amount to EUR 100.8 mil in the Czech Republic and EUR 16.9 mil in the Slovak Republic. The paper contains a proposal of internalisation of these costs in the form of performance charges applied to operation of heavy goods vehicles.
Abstract: Based on a study in two European cities, Mainz in Germany and Zurich in Switzerland, the article investigates both acoustical and non-acoustical factors affecting indoor annoyance due to residential road traffic and aircraft noise. We specifically focus on three factors: (1) the role of windows as a feature of the building where people live; (2) the role of individual environmental concern as a general attitude; and (3) the role of household income as an indicator of socioeconomic resources. Empirical results show that closed windows in general and closed high-quality windows in particular are an important barrier against outdoor road traffic and aircraft noise, as well as a helpful subjective coping tool against corresponding annoyances. Environmental concern, too, proves to be a significant predictor of noise annoyance. Environmentally highly concerned people articulate feelings of annoyance more often than environmentally less concerned ones. As expected income is negatively related to road traffic noise annoyance. However, we find a positive association of income with annoyance from aircraft noise. Although objective exposure to aircraft noise is lower for high-income households, they feel stronger annoyed by noise from airplanes. Income shows various indirect effects on noise annoyance. A comparative analysis of road traffic and aircraft noise annoyance yields similarities, but also remarkable differences in terms of their influence factors.
Abstract: Background: Environmental stressors such as transport noise may contribute to development of obesity through increased levels of stress hormones, sleep deprivation and endocrine disruption. Epidemiological evidence supporting an association of road traffic noise with obesity markers is still relatively scant and confined to certain geographical regions. We aimed to examine the cross-sectional associations between road traffic noise and obesity markers in three large European cohorts involving nearly 500,000 individuals. Methods: Three population-based cohorts (UK Biobank, Lifelines, HUNT3) were established between 2006 and 2013 in the UK, the Netherlands and Norway respectively. For all three cohorts, residential 24-h road traffic noise (Lden) for 2009 was modelled from a standardised European noise assessment framework. Residential exposures to NO2 for 2007 and PM2.5 for 2010 were estimated from Europe-wide land use regression models. Obesity markers including body mass index and waist circumference were measured at recruitment. Obesity and central obesity status were subsequently derived. Regression models were fitted in each cohort, adjusting for a harmonised set of demographic and lifestyle covariates, with further adjustments for air pollution in the main model. Results: The main analyses included 412,934 participants of UK Biobank, 61,032 of Lifelines and 30,305 of HUNT3, with a mean age of 43–56 years and Lden ranging 42–89 dB(A) across cohorts. In UK Biobank, per 10 dB(A) higher of Lden: BMI was higher by 0.14kg/m2 (95%CI: 0.11–0.18), waist circumference higher by 0.27 cm (95%CI: 0.19–0.35), odds of obesity was 1.06 (95%CI: 1.04–1.08) and of central obesity was 1.05 (95%CI: 1.04–1.07). These associations were robust to most other sensitivity analyses but attenuated by further adjustment of PM2.5 or area-level socioeconomic status. Associations were more pronounced among women, those with low physical activity, higher household income or hearing impairment. In HUNT3, associations were observed for obesity or central obesity status among those exposed to Lden greater than 55 dB(A). In contrast, no or negative associations were observed in the Lifelines cohort. Conclusions: This largest study to date providing mixed findings on impacts of long-term exposure to road traffic noise on obesity, which necessitates future analyses using longitudinal data to further investigate this potentially important epidemiological link. •The largest study to date involving nearly 500,000 adults from three European cohorts.•In UK Biobank, higher road-noise exposure was associated with obesity/central obesity status.•These associations were attenuated by further adjustment for PM2.5.•In HUNT3, only exposure to road-noise >55 dB was associated with obesity/central obesity status.•No or negative associations were observed in the Lifelines cohort.
Abstract: Objective Previous studies have suggested that transportation noise may increase risk for breast cancer, but existing literature is scarce and inconclusive. We aimed to investigate associations between road traffic and railway noise and risk for breast cancer across the entire Danish female population. Methods For all 2.8 million residential addresses across Denmark, we modelled road and railway noise at the most and least exposed façades for the period 1990–2017. We calculated 10-year time-weighted mean noise exposure for 1.8 million women aged >35 years, of whom 66,006 developed breast cancer during follow-up from 2000 to 2017. We analysed data using Cox proportional hazards models with noise exposure included as 10-year running means and adjusted for a number of individual and area-level socioeconomic co-variates and air pollution with fine particles estimated for all addresses. Results For exposures at the least exposed façade, we found that a 10 dB increase in 10-year time-weighted noise was associated with incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for breast cancer of 1.032 (1.019–1.046) for road noise and 1.023 (0.993–1.053) for railway noise. For exposures at the most exposed façade, the IRRs (95% CIs) were 1.012 (1.002–1.022) for road noise and 1.020 (1.001–1.039) for railway noise. Associations were strongest among women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative breast cancer. Conclusions Road traffic and railway noise were associated with higher risk for breast cancer, especially noise at the least exposed façade, which is a proxy for noise exposure during sleep.
Abstract: The increase in urbanization and the progressive development of marine industries have led to the appearance of a new kind of pollution called “noise pollution”. This pollution exerts an increasing pressure on marine mammals, fish species, and invertebrates, which constitutes a new debate that must be controlled in a sustainable way by environmental and noise approaches with the objective of preserving marine and human life. Despite, noise pollution can travel long distances underwater, cover large areas, and have secondary effects on marine animals; by masking their ability to hear their prey or predators, finding their way, or connecting group members. During the COVID-19 pandemic, except for the transportation of essential goods and emergency services, all the public transport services were suspended including aircraft and ships. This lockdown has impacted positively on the marine environment through reduction of the noise sources. In this article, we are interested in noise pollution in general, its sources, impacts, and the management and future actions to follow. And since this pollution is not studied in Morocco, we focused on the different sources that can generate it on the Moroccan coasts. This is the first review article, which focuses on the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on this type of pollution in the marine environment; which we aim to identify the impact of this pandemic on underwater noise and marine species. Finally, and given the increase in noise levels, preventive management, both at the national and international level, is required before irreversible damage is caused to biodiversity and the marine ecosystem.
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