Contaminación lumínica : una visión desde el foco contaminante : el alumbrado artificial

Descripció del recurs: 13 de setembre de 2012BibliografiaLa contaminación lumínica es un fenómeno que se estudia desde principios del siglo XX pero que ha cobrado relevancia en las últimas décadas. Su origen es la iluminación artificial, que ha modificado las condiciones naturales nocturnas tal como las conocíamos. En los primeros apartados de este libro, se exponen la problemática, las causas y los efectos de la contaminación lumínica y, a continuación, se describe técnicamente el foco contaminante: el alumbrado artificial. Se hace especial hincapié en los factores en los que la tecnología del alumbrado puede minimizar los efectos sin repercutir en las actividades humanas. El uso de reglamentación y normativa se utiliza como ejemplo de control administrativo y se muestran diferentes referencias al respecto. Se describen dos herramientas de cuantificación de la contaminación lumínica: el método RAMA-L para la evaluación de la problemática en proyectos luminotécnicos y un modelo matemático para determinar el incremento del brillo artificial del cielo en función del alumbrado y de sus variables de entorno. Son de especial interés los apéndices, destinados a ampliar conceptos, que llevan asociada una extensa recopilación bibliográfica, que enlaza la problemática técnica con un fenómeno de alcance social y mundial de cuyas repercusiones no estamos debidamente informados

Nature, extent and ecological implications of night-time light from road vehicles

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Wiley via the DOI in this record1.The erosion of night‐time by the introduction of artificial lighting constitutes a profound pressure on the natural environment. It has altered what had for millennia been reliable signals from natural light cycles used for regulating a host of biological processes, with impacts ranging from changes in gene expression to ecosystem processes. 2.Studies of these impacts have focused almost exclusively on those resulting from stationary sources of light emissions, and particularly streetlights. However, mobile sources, especially road vehicle headlights, contribute substantial additional emissions. 3.The ecological impacts of light emissions from vehicle headlights are likely to be especially high because these are (i) focused so as to light roadsides at higher intensities than commonly experienced from other sources, and well above activation thresholds for many biological processes; (ii) projected largely in a horizontal plane and thus can carry over long distances; (iii) introduced into much larger areas of the landscape than experience street lighting; (iv) typically broad ‘white’ spectrum, which substantially overlaps the action spectra of many biological processes; and (v) often experienced at roadsides as series of pulses of light (produced by passage of vehicles), a dynamic known to have major biological impacts. 4.The ecological impacts of road vehicle headlights will markedly increase with projected global growth in numbers of vehicles and the road network, increasing the local severity of emissions (because vehicle numbers are increasing faster than growth in the road network) and introducing emissions into areas from which they were previously absent. The effects will be further exacerbated by technological developments that are increasing the intensity of headlight emissions and the amounts of blue light in emission spectra. 5.Synthesis and applications. Emissions from vehicle headlights need to be considered as a major, and growing, source of ecological impacts of artificial night‐time lighting. It will be a significant challenge to minimize these impacts whilst balancing drivers’ needs at night and avoiding risk and discomfort for other road users. Nonetheless, there is potential to identify solutions to these conflicts, both through the design of headlights and that of roads.The research leading to this article has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC grant agreement no. 268504 and Natural Environment Research Council grants NE/N001672/1 and NE/P01156X/1

Light pollution: The possible consequences of excessive illumination on retina

Light is the visible part of the electromagnetic radiation within a range of 380-780 nm; (400-700 on primates retina). In vertebrates, the retina is adapted to capturing light photons and transmitting this information to other structures in the central nervous system. In mammals, light acts directly on the retina to fulfill two important roles: (1) the visual function through rod and cone photoreceptor cells and (2) non-image forming tasks, such as the synchronization of circadian rhythms to a 24 h solar cycle, pineal melatonin suppression and pupil light reflexes. However, the excess of illumination may cause retinal degeneration or accelerate genetic retinal diseases. In the last century human society has increased its exposure to artificial illumination, producing changes in the Light/Dark cycle, as well as in light wavelengths and intensities. Although, the consequences of unnatural illumination or light pollution have been underestimated by modern society in its way of life, light pollution may have a strong impact on people's health. The effects of artificial light sources could have direct consequences on retinal health. Constant exposure to different wavelengths and intensities of light promoted by light pollution may produce retinal degeneration as a consequence of photoreceptor or retinal pigment epithelium cells death. In this review we summarize the different mechanisms of retinal damage related to the light exposure, which generates light pollution.Fil: Contin, Maria Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Benedetto, María Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Quinteros Quintana, María Luz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Guido, Mario Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba; Argentin

Medición de la contaminación lumínica en espacios naturales: propuesta de un modelo predictivo

La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo primario realizar una serie de análisis que evaluaran los factores que afectan directamente a zonas naturales expuestas a la contaminación lumínica. Para posteriormente utilizar los datos levantados y desarrollar una propuesta de modelo para la caracterización de la contaminación lumínica en espacios afectados por la iluminación artificial nocturna proveniente de focos contaminantes identificados.Se seleccionaron los instrumentos adecuados para llevar a cabo una serie de mediciones lumínicas y recogida de datos de acuerdo a los factores de afectación reconocidos en zonas determinadas próximas a los focos de influencia, en diferentes lugares de España y México. Los lugares fueron elegidos por la principal característica de ser zona natural y de acuerdo a los factores de posible afectación.Se realizó trabajo de laboratorio para el tratamiento de los datos que dieron las pautas para el buen desarrollo de la investigación y el cumplimiento de los objetivos propuestos. Se recrearon mapas lumínicos de superficie de las áreas estudiadas y se buscaron tendencias en los datos levantados apoyándose en herramientas estadísticas de correlación paramétrica, evidencia empírica que respaldó el razonamiento de la investigación.Posteriormente se estudió la manera de llevar a cabo la propuesta del modelo con la cual fuera posible establecer el grado de intensidad de luz, en cualquier punto de espacios afectados por la contaminación lumínica, proveniente de los focos contaminantes cercanos a dichos puntos. La propuesta fue desarrollada tomando en cuenta las metodologías similares ya existentes y el tratamiento de los datos obtenidos.Finalmente, el modelo se generó en una herramienta informática y se analizó cotejando los datos obtenidos por el mismo con los datos derivados de las investigaciones in situ.This research was made with the main objective to perform a series of analyses to assess factors that directly affect natural areas exposed to light pollution. Later the lifted data was used to develop a proposal model for the characterization of light pollution in affected areas from identified polluting sources of artificial night lighting.Appropriate instruments were selected to perform a series of light measurement and collection of data according to affectation factors recognised in certain areas close to the sources of influence in different parts of Spain and Mexico. Sites were chosen by the main feature to be natural area and related to the factors of possible impacts.There was laboratory work to take care of the data that provided the guidelines to conduct properly the investigation and the fulfilment of the objectives of the work. Light maps of the studied areas were recreated and tendencies were found based on multivariate statistical tools to correlate the data, empirical evidence that supported the research analysis.Afterwards, was studied how to carry out the model with which possible to set the degree of intensity of light at any point in areas affected by light pollution from pollutants focus near of these points. The proposal was developed taking into account similar methodologies and the treatment of the data obtained.Finally, the model was generated in a computer tool and was discussed checking the data obtained by the same with the data derived from the results in situ

Light pollution in ultraviolet and visible spectrum: effect on different visual perceptions.

In general terms, lighting research has been focused in the development of artificial light with the purpose of saving energy and having more durable lamps. However, the consequences that artificial night lighting could bring to the human being and living organisms have become an important issue recently. Light pollution represents a significant problem to both the environment and human health causing a disruption of biological rhythms related not only to the visible spectrum, but also to other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Since the lamps emit across a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum, all photobiological species may be exposed to another type of light pollution. By comparing five different lamps, the present study attempts to evaluate UV radiative fluxes relative to what humans and two species of insects perceive as sky glow level. We have analyzed three atmospheric situations: clear sky, overcast sky and evolving precipitable water content. One important finding suggests that when a constant illuminance of urban spaces has to be guaranteed the sky glow from the low pressure sodium lamps has the most significant effect to the visual perception of the insects tested. But having the fixed number of luminaires the situation changes and the low pressure sodium lamp would be the best choice for all three species. The sky glow effects can be interpreted correctly only if the lamp types and the required amount of scotopic luxes at the ground are taken into account simultaneously. If these two factors are combined properly, then the ecological consequences of sky glow can be partly reduced. The results of this research may be equally useful for lighting engineers, architects, biologists and researchers who are studying the effects of sky glow on humans and biodiversity

A comparison contrasting the relative spectra of the lamps and the spectral vision of the three species is shown in this figure.

<p>The main objective is to see clearly the differences between the lamp emissions and to relate them to what the species can feel.</p

The spectral sensitivity of the dark-adapted eye of alate M. persicae (an aphid species), the spectral sensitivity of Narathura bazalus (a lepidoptera species) and the scotopic spectral sensitivity of humans are considered here.

<p>The spectral sensitivity of the dark-adapted eye of alate M. persicae (an aphid species), the spectral sensitivity of Narathura bazalus (a lepidoptera species) and the scotopic spectral sensitivity of humans are considered here.</p

The legend to this figure is the same as in <b>Fig. 8</b>.

<p>The legend to this figure is the same as in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0056563#pone-0056563-g008" target="_blank"><b>Fig. 8</b></a>.</p

Characteristics and relative emissions of the five light sources.

<p>The <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0056563#pone-0056563-t001" target="_blank">Tab. 1</a> can be read in different ways. For instance, if a constant radiative emission is required independent of lamp-type, then two LED lamps are needed to supply the VIS emissions by one HPS lamp. However, if the human perception is considered, one can easily recognize that LED lamp emits about 27% more than HPS lamp. In this case only 4 LED lamps are necessary to produce the luminous energy equivalent to 5 HPS lamps. Note that all these evaluations were made for direct emissions of the lamps considered and not for a diffuse radiation of a night-sky that can be detected at the ground as a diffuse irradiance .</p

Total amount of precipitable water is 0.3 atmospheric centimeters.

<p>The curve styles coincide with those that have been used in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0056563#pone-0056563-g003" target="_blank">Fig. 3</a>. The results were obtained under assumption of constant luminous emission to the upper hemisphere; the computed flux densities are normalized to the visual sensitivity of the organisms selected for the present study.</p