Purple streetlights are spreading the blues
Scuse me, streetlight color does matter.
The (March 17) Sunday Journal article on purple streetlights says whether purple or white, the lights are just as effective. Actually, the color of artificial lights at night is very important, to people as well as other living things.
The white streetlights are bluer than they should be, even if they are functioning properly and not glowing purple.
Blue lights can indeed make you sing about blues in the night.
It’s well-known physical law that blue light scatters more in the air, amplifying glare and skyglow.
Have you noticed that the blue LED streetlights and the newer blue car headlights on cars make it harder to see traffic? This is called disability glare. We already have a big death and injury toll related to driving and bad lighting doesn’t help.
Many creatures have diurnal cycles, affecting the powerful biochemical melatonin. In humans, disrupting the melatonin cycle has AMA-recognized dangers increasing the incidence of cancers.
Bluer light — purpler? — also has more effects on wildlife. Fifty-six percent of birds, those flying at night and migrating, insect pollinators and iconic species like fireflies all are negatively impacted by bad lighting at night.
On the positive side, the city may improve outdoor and site lighting, including making light a warmer color for businesses and residences, reducing glare and trespass.
I hope that the current generation of overbright, glaring blue streetlights will also be replaced with warmer-colored shielded streetlights. Better for everyone and everything. DEREK WALLENTINSEN Albuquerque