Light pollution is serious problem, period. It is not simply a nuisance as often portrayed, but a genuine problem that affects humans and nature alike. With humans, light pollution disrupts our sleep cycle, or circadian cycle, which is linked to numerous illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, insomnia. In addition, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is discovering a link between light pollution and an increased risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, early-onset diabetes, and obesity, among other things. Also, according to a 2006 study published in Pediatric Research, exposure to excessive artificial light (light pollution fits into that category) in early childhood can prevent young children from having a regular sleep routine (yes, you can blame your children waking you at 1 A.M. on light pollution) and lead to sleep and mood disorders later in life. Despite that funny side note, light pollution is not a laughing matter as I have already proven. It also has a major impact on animals. Estimates on the number of birds dying yearly in North America as a result of collisions with brightly lit buildings and bright electric signs have reached one billion. Light pollution is accredited with a declining population of moths, bats, frogs, and turtles. Scientists are just now realizing the impact of light pollution on the large populations of other nocturnal animals throughout the world.

If you would like to read more about this issue, I would strongly recommend an article published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information that can be found here.



I would like to call my fellow petitioners and all others who may read this, to action. Light pollution is a major issue that affects our health, wildlife, and hides from our view an otherwise beautiful night sky. New Jersey is no longer a rural state. We are a state right on the border of New York City, a place with some of the largest artificial lights in the world, and we must admit now that light pollution is a problem! I would like to call all of you to action to petition our government, spread the word through social media about this petition, and bring this issue into the public eye! I hope that by the time that next year is out we can all enjoy the beautiful night sky that can be found in so many other states across the nation! Thank you.