A new study has found that that the bright light from sports stadiums and urban street lights may boost daytime levels of ozone, a key air pollutant.
C-and-EN Associate Editor Jyllian Kemsley describes a so-called "field campaign" that took place in southern California and Mexico last year.
In one of the experiments, as the plane flew over a brightly lit sports stadium, the team found there was enough light to drive certain chemical reactions in the atmosphere that would boost daytime levels of ozone, one of the most prevalent and difficult-to-control air pollutants in urban areas.
One of the scientists in the experiment notes in the article that cities and states, struggling to meet ever-stricter government air pollution limits, may want to consider the unexpected effects of night-time lighting of streets, sports stadiums, and other sources of bright light.
The study appears in Monday's edition of Chemical and Engineering News (C and EN), ACS' weekly newsmagazine. (ANI)