In this article we’ll discuss two maps that you can utilize to see pollution in your area: one for air and ground pollutant's environmental and social impacts and one for light pollution.
We’ve talked before about how environmental change and social justice go hand in hand. But have you ever wondered how their intersection may impact you? Have you ever wondered what environmental contaminates may be in your city? Don’t worry, we have too! And even if you haven’t wondered this, it’s still good to know. Knowing the environmental concerns documented around your home can help you better protect your current house, or aid you in your search for a new home. Recently I attended an environmental justice training, and the EPA showcased their tool “EJScreen”, the EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool. This tool can be used to search general or specific areas and map the impact of their “Environmental Justice Indexes”. Their indexes include 13 pollutant categories like toxic releases to air, lead paint, and hazardous waste proximity. The map allows you to overlay socioeconomic indicators and health disparities such as heart disease, asthma, and cancer prevalence. You can explore this tool for yourself at: ejscreen.epa.gov.
One pollutant we haven’t talked about yet is light pollution. Light pollution is created through the excessive use of outdoor artificial lights. This excessiveness is impacting wildlife behavior, human health, and our ability to see the stars and other astrological phenomenon. The brightening of the night sky by these artificial lights mostly occurs over urban areas, caused by street lights, office buildings, advertising signs, and cars. 99% of Americans and Europeans, and 80% of the world’s total population, live under sky glow. The American Medical Association states that recent studies show our circadian rhythms can be confused by nocturnal light, interrupting our sleep patterns. Birds and other animals have also been studied and shown to have behaviors, like migration patterns, disrupted by artificial nocturnal light. If you want to check out the light pollution levels around your area, check out www.lightpollutionmap.info.To combat the invasion of light pollution, scientists have started tracking “dark sites”. These are sights that have lower to zero levels of light pollution. Many of the sites are within national and state parks and those that aren’t, scientists are fighting to protect. If one of your bucket list items is to gaze upon the Milky Way galaxy in all her glory, check out darksitefinder.com to find “dark sites” near you!
Sources:
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/light-pollution/
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/milky-way-galaxy-433155/
