Impact of Artificial Light at Night on Flora and Fauna and Human Beings

In many of the world’s major cities, stargazing is something that takes place in a planetarium. Due to the rapid urbanisation of the nations, there is excessive increase in the use of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN). Synthetic light has served society well by, for example, increasing the duration of the productive day, providing additional time not only for work but also for recreational purposes that need light. Light pollution is a term that describes massive, unjustified, and excessive usage of artificial light in the form of exterior light sources. Studies conducted by the scientists implying that light pollution may have long-term negative impacts in both human and wildlife health. Artificial lights disturb the ecosystems through changing the conducts of nocturnal wildlife, such as mammals, birds, and insects. This affects the activities such as mating, and navigation and it gives rise to ecological imbalances. Plant life also suffers, with artificial light affecting flowering times, growth patterns, and community structure. Artificial light leads to the disruption of melatonin secretion and disturbed Sleep architecture of human beings. The latter has been associated with mood disorders, impaired cognitive function, and a higher risk of chronic diseases like obesity and cardiovascular disorder. There are some global initiatives to mitigate the light pollution such as The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), The World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness, International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015), and The Globe at Night Program. In India there is no law to regulate the light pollution. There is an immediate need to regulate the use of Artificial Light At Night in India. This study advocated for generating the awareness concerning the light pollution and stressed the need for regulation of the light pollution in India.