Light Pollution: 8 Myths You Should Stop Believing

The term light pollution is more widely recognized these days. More people are starting to realize that lighting up the night isn’t always a good thing — but that hasn’t exactly slowed us down. We’re still filling the night sky with more and more artificial light every year.

For many, it remains an issue that’s often misunderstood, with many common myths. 

Whether it’s misconceptions about how bad it really is or how simple it can be to make a change, it’s time to set the record straight.

Let’s bust some of the most popular myths about light pollution and shed some light on the truth!

Myth 1: Light pollution is only a problem in big cities

Light pollution isn’t just an urban issue—it affects communities everywhere, from bustling cities to quiet rural landscapes.

While large cities are well-known for their bright lights, artificial light is spreading far beyond urban centers. Even a few incorrectly installed or excessively bright lights can contribute to skyglow, impacting small towns, suburban neighborhoods, and remote rural areas. It’s not always about the number of lights but how they’re used.

Skyglow, a phenomenon where artificial light scatters in the atmosphere, can travel miles from its source, affecting areas far beyond where the light originates.

In addition to residential and street lighting, commercial greenhouse operations have become a significant source of light pollution here in rural Ontario. The high-intensity artificial lighting used to extend growing hours—especially for tomatoes, peppers, flowers, and cannabis—has dramatically increased artificial light at night (ALAN).

Farm house is illuminated from greenhouse lights (Leamington, Ontario) | Source: Dax Melmer/Windsor Star

The once-dark rural skies are now washed out by artificial light, affecting visibility, wildlife, and Bortle Scale. Regulations such as bylaws requiring greenhouses to use blackout curtains at night could help curb this issue.

But no matter where you live, there are steps you can take to reduce light pollution:

• Turning off or removing unnecessary lights
• Shield fixtures to direct light downward
• Use warmer temperature lighting
• Installing motion sensors and timers so the light is only used when needed

Myth 2: Light pollution doesn’t affect animals

Light pollution has far-reaching effects on the natural world, disrupting wildlife and setting off a chain reaction that impacts entire ecosystems and the environment.

When artificial light interferes with animal behavior, it destabilizes ecosystems. These disruptions ripple through food chains, affecting plant pollination, species populations, and habitat balance. As ecosystems become unbalanced, biodiversity declines, natural processes are altered, and environmental health suffers.

Here are the ways light pollution impacts wildlife, ecosystems, and the environment.

Wildlife

• Disrupts Nocturnal Animals – Many species, including bats, owls, and moths, rely on darkness for hunting, navigation, and reproduction. Artificial light interferes with their behavior, reducing their ability to find food and shelter.
• Confuses Migratory Birds – Birds use natural light cues for navigation. Bright city lights and skyglow can disorient migrating birds, causing them to collide with buildings or become exhausted. Disrupted migration patterns, altered feeding behaviors, and even impacts on reproduction have been linked to artificial lighting at night.
• Threatens Insects – Many insects, especially pollinators like moths and fireflies, are drawn to artificial lights and become trapped or die from exhaustion. This disrupts food chains and reduces pollination rates for plants.

Ecosystems

• Alters Predator-Prey Relationships – Artificial lighting can make prey animals more visible at night, making them easier targets for predators, or disrupting normal hunting behaviors.
• Disturbs Natural Cycles – Many ecosystems rely on the natural balance of light and darkness. Artificial lighting changes animal behavior, affecting ecological interactions.
• Reduces Biodiversity – Species that depend on darkness struggle to survive in artificially lit environments, leading to population declines and less biodiversity.
• Impacts Aquatic Life – Artificial lights near lakes, rivers, and oceans affect marine species like sea turtles, whose hatchlings rely on moonlight to find the ocean but instead are drawn toward bright, artificial sources.

Plants, Trees and the Environment

• Disrupts Growth Cycles – Many plants rely on seasonal changes in light to regulate growth, flowering, and dormancy. Artificial light alters these cycles, leading to weaker plants.
• Delays Leaf Shedding – Trees exposed to artificial light retain their leaves longer into the fall, making them more vulnerable to frost damage.
• Reduces Pollination – Many pollinators, including moths and bees, struggle under artificial lights, leading to lower pollination rates for flowers, crops, and trees.
• Increases Energy Waste – Bright, unshielded lighting wastes huge amounts of electricity, contributing to carbon emissions and climate change.

The light source (left) caused the delay of the leaf fall | MORAVIAN GEOGRAPHICAL REPORTS

Light pollution is more than just an inconvenience—it has serious consequences for wildlife, ecosystems, and the environment. By using shielded, warm-colored, and motion-activated lights, we can reduce these impacts and help restore the balance between light and darkness.

Myth 3: Brighter or More Outdoor Lighting Improves Safety

Many people believe that adding more light to an environment makes it safer, but research shows that increased lighting does not always improve safety—and in some cases, it can make areas more dangerous.

Excessively bright, unshielded, and poorly designed lighting creates harsh glare, which significantly reduces visibility. This glare is blinding, disrupting your night vision and making it harder to see potential hazards, including details in shadows and dark areas, which can help criminals to stay hidden rather than deter them. This has been shown in research, where young women’s perceptions of urban safety do not correlate with the most brightly lit spaces.

Female 39: “Never felt safe walking in this area, even if I am not alone. The lighting is terrible, and the design of the walkways leaves a lot of spots hidden from view.”

Bright lights can also reduce surveillance effectiveness by washing out security camera footage, making it harder to identify people or events.

Most importantly, artificial light at night does not stop crime. Research shows that some well-lit areas experienced higher crime rates, while some dark or dimly lit areas remain safe. If anything, more lighting gives people a false sense of security, making them more vulnerable. 

Light glare blinds us to the dangers hidden in the shadows | Source: Ken Walczak

Instead of simply adding more light, effective safety strategies include:

• Well-designed, properly shielded lighting to reduce glare and shadows
• Lower-intensity light, focusing on visibility rather than brightness
• Well-placed lighting to enhance contrast and clarity
• Motion activated lights rather than having bright lights on all night
• Improving environmental design through landscaping, fencing, and better urban planning

Enhancing safety is about responsible and effective lighting that improves visibility without overwhelming the environment.

Myth 4: LED lights are better for the environment

LEDs, also known as light-emitting diodes, are often praised for their energy efficiency. But that doesn’t mean they’re always environmentally friendly when it comes to outdoor lighting.

Yes, LED lights are energy-efficient, but they often worsen the effects of light pollution as a result of being too bright or improperly installed.

The blue-white light emitted by most LEDs scatters more easily in the atmosphere, contributing to skyglow. It also disrupts wildlife more severely than warmer colored light, interfering with nocturnal animals’ natural behaviors and reducing insect populations.

Blue-white LED streetlights | Adobe Stock

The affordability and efficiency of LEDs have also led to over-lighting. More lights are installed at full brightness, or left on longer, simply because they use less electricity, ultimately worsening light pollution and offsetting their energy-saving benefits.

For example: A 15W LED at full brightness still consumes more energy than a dimmed incandescent at 30W, but provides significantly more light output. This demonstrates that while LEDs are generally more efficient, their full brightness isn’t always necessary, and dimming any light source can significantly reduce energy use and light pollution.

To truly minimize their environmental impact and reduce their harmful effects on the nighttime environment, LEDs should not be used at full brightness. Bulbs should also be a warm color temperature of 2700K or lower, and should be properly shielded and directed downward.

The goal is responsible and smart lighting to reduce light pollution while maintaining safety.

Myth 5: Light pollution only comes from outdoor lighting

While many people associate light pollution with streetlights and floodlights, indoor lighting can be just as impactful. Light that spills through uncovered windows at night contributes to skyglow, the brightening of the night sky.

Even in suburban or rural areas, homes emit a surprising amount of light — from living rooms, bedrooms, and bathroom lights. While this may seem minor, their combined effect across neighbourhoods and communities is noticeable. 

This light doesn’t go unnoticed by nearby nocturnal wildlife, including birds, bats, insects, and amphibians, which rely on natural darkness to forage, migrate, and rest. When indoor lighting escapes outdoors, it interferes with these natural rhythms, disrupts animal behaviour, and can even increase hazards like bird-window collisions.

Interior lighting spilling outdoors. Source: BBC

It also leads to light trespass, when light shines where it’s not wanted — like into a neighbour’s yard or through a bedroom window. This unwanted glow can disrupt sleep and affect quality of life.

This form of light pollution also happens often while camping. Bright interior lights in RVs, trailers, or tents — especially when blinds or covers are left open — spill into natural environments that many species depend on to thrive.

This is one of the easiest forms of light pollution to reduce. Closing blinds or curtains after dark, choosing warmer, dimmer bulbs, and turning off all unnecessary lights at night are all simple but powerful actions. Not only does this help protect wildlife, but it also improves energy efficiency and can even enhance your own sleep quality.

Myth 6: I’m not an astronomer, so light pollution doesn’t affect me

Skyglow scatters in the atmosphere, diminishing visibility and washing out celestial objects. This not only hampers scientific discovery but also disconnects humanity from the stars, depriving future generations of the wonder of a naturally dark sky.

The Milky Way cannot be seen by more than 80% of the global population.

But even if you’re not an astronomer, light pollution affects you too. It has serious consequences for human health, particularly by disrupting circadian rhythms—our body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.

Exposure to artificial light at night, especially blue-white LED light, suppresses melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep, immune function, and cellular repair. This disruption has been linked to:

• Sleep Disorders & Insomnia – Reduced melatonin makes it harder to sleep, leading to sleep deprivation, increased stress, and weakened immunity.

• Cardiovascular Disease – Poor sleep is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

• Obesity & Metabolic Disorders – Circadian disruption increases the risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.

• Cancer Risk – Studies associate nighttime light exposure with higher risks of breast and prostate cancer, as melatonin has anti-cancer properties.

• Mental Health Issues – Disturbed sleep and prolonged exposure to artificial light correlate with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and mood disorders.

Blue-rich LED lighting, commonly found in streetlights, security lights, and screens, is particularly harmful because it mimics daylight and suppresses melatonin more than warmer, amber-colored light.

Even small exposures—like looking at a phone or living near an LED streetlight—can signal the brain to stay awake, disrupting sleep and increasing health risks.

Myth 7: Light pollution isn’t as bad as other environmental issues

Light pollution is often overlooked as an environmental threat, especially when compared to air and water pollution. However, light pollution is one of the fastest-growing and most easily fixable environmental problems.

We know that, like chemical contaminants in the air and water, excessive and poorly directed artificial light alters natural ecosystems, disrupts wildlife, and negatively impacts human health. It scatters through the atmosphere, creating skyglow that drowns out the stars, much like smog obscures the sky.

Light pollution is not just an issue of visibility—it’s a huge waste of energy, which directly contributes to climate change. Every year, billions of dollars’ worth of electricity is wasted on inefficient, unnecessary, or poorly designed outdoor lighting. This wasted energy comes largely from power plants burning fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The more artificial light we use, the greater the demand for energy, increasing our carbon footprint and accelerating global warming. By reducing light pollution through smarter, energy-efficient lighting choices, we can significantly cut energy waste, lower emissions, and help combat climate change.

Unlike many environmental issues, light pollution is completely reversible. With simple actions like switching to fully shielded, warm-colored lights, using motion sensors, and advocating for dark-sky-friendly policies, we can reduce its impact immediately.

It does not require extensive cleanup efforts or waiting to see the results. Light pollution can be reversed almost instantly by using better lighting practices. Recognizing light as a pollutant is the first step toward addressing its harmful effects and restoring the balance between artificial light and natural darkness.

Myth 8: There’s nothing we can do to reduce light pollution

Contrary to popular belief, light pollution is not an inevitable part of modern life—there are ways we can use lighting responsibly. And unlike other forms of pollution, light pollution can be immediately reduced by adjusting how we use artificial lighting.

On an individual level, we can be mindful of how and when we use lights at night:

• Turn of unnecessary lights that aren’t serving a clear purpose
• Shield light fixtures to direct light downward rather than directly out
• Switch to warm-colored bulbs that are 2700K or lower
• Install motion sensors or timers, so you are only using light when it’s needed
• Purchase Dark Sky friendly lighting, with proper light shields

I am a DarkSky Advocate and Delegate spreading the word about light pollution.

On a community level, we can help to educate people about the issue:

• Join Dark Sky International as a Dark Sky Advocate or join your local Dark Sky Chapter
• Receive support from your city or municipality through a Dark Sky Week Proclamation 
• Advocate for better light policies (i.e. dark sky lighting, lighting curfews, etc.)
• Nominate a location, park, or community as a certified Dark Sky Place
• Spread the word locally (i.e. city staff, schools, tourism boards, advocacy groups)
• Host public events to educate about light pollution (i.e., star parties, eco talks, night walks, workshops, etc.)

By making these simple adjustments, we can restore natural darkness, protect wildlife, reduce energy waste, and bring back the beauty of the night sky—all with minimal effort and cost.

Conclusion

Light pollution is one of the most pervasive yet overlooked environmental issues.

Uncovering the truth about these light pollution myths shows the ways light pollution alters the natural world in ways that disrupt entire ecosystems and threaten biodiversity. 

Protecting the night isn’t just about stargazing—it’s about restoring balance to our environment, saving energy, and promoting healthier communities.

• Without light pollution, natural cycles remain intact, allowing animals to follow instinctive behaviors crucial for their survival and maintaining the health of ecosystems.

• In the absence of light pollution, ecosystems thrive, and the environment remains undisturbed, with minimal impact on climate change or energy waste.

• When light pollution is minimized, human circadian rhythms are not disrupted, promoting better sleep, reducing health risks, and supporting overall well-being.

• Without light pollution, the night skies remain pristine, preserving our cultural and astronomical heritage, and allowing future generations to experience the wonder of a naturally dark sky.

Dark skies are becoming increasingly rare, but we have the power to change that.

Every small action—like using shielded lights or turning off unnecessary lights—helps restore natural darkness.

Join the movement to protect our dark skies – for the sake of all living things.

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Ashley is an environmental educator, communication professional, and astrophotographer. She has extensive experience writing for diverse audiences to increase public awareness and engagement. Ashley is an active Advocate and Delegate with DarkSky International, helping to protect the nighttime environment from the harmful effects of light pollution through advocacy and outreach. 

 

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