Night lighting light pollution may aggravate air pollution

2016-08-20

Looking at the night sky in the city, even if the sky is clear, the stars have also been able to see less and less, mainly because of light pollution in the city at night to bring the bright lights caused. However, scientists recently discovered that light pollution will not only astronomers trouble, and may even cause the global air pollution is becoming increasingly serious.

According to a study of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show that a name of nitrate (generally refers to nitrate anions) of chemical substances subject to restrictions and obstacles road lighting, the material can be decomposed by the automobile and factory emissions harmful gas.

Scientists study tested the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Harald Stark in Los Angeles showed that the light will come from nitrate buildings, street lights and car lights roots dampen demand. "Our preliminary results show that the city lights can slow down the cleaning speed night 7%, and the next day cause ozone pollution starting chemicals increased by 5%." Stark said, "We need the next step its impact more accurate quantification, the second day of our city actually how much ozone. this work is very important, because many cities are close to the limits of ozone level of control, so even very small like this the reaction may also have a significant impact. "

Although light is much more bleak than the sun, but will still have a negative impact is difficult to ignore. To this end, Stark presented a possible solution, and that is the color of the light to a smaller influence of red, but doing so may not be practical. Stark There is another more simple remedy to the light irradiation direction downward. Because fewer lights up, the impact on the root of atmospheric nitrate is smaller.