Athol High School student studies light pollution in town

ATHOL – The Board of Planning and Community Development is asking residents to complete the Dark Sky Lighting and Light Pollution survey, which could assist with developing light regulations for new developments.

The survey will also assist Athol High School senior Om Patel in his study of light pollution in the North Quabbin.

Planning and Development Director Eric Smith explained that the town’s interest in Patel’s work stems from a chance meeting between the AHS student and BPCD member Aimee Hansen “at a student climate event last April. He approached her and began speaking with her about dark sky lighting and lighting pollution issues. So, we invited him to a Planning Board meeting over the summer to discuss how dark sky lighting might be used for some of our permitting projects.”

As an example, Smith cited permitting that was done for Haffner’s Convenience at Templeton Road and Exit 77 off Route 2.

“We tried to make sure lighting wasn’t going to spill over,” he said. “That was in 2018. The idea of having more lighting regulations or controls put in place more broadly is something the Planning Board could look to do.

“With Om’s interest in this and his motivation, he put together a draft survey and now, after feedback from the Planning Board, the survey is live online,” Smith added.

Patel said that as a young child, he was interested in climate-related issues, particularly those in the community.

“I used to do a lot of environmental conferences with my advisors at Athol Middle School,” he said. “I was interested in how different lights project different skyglows. That was really interesting to me.”

Patel said he has been studying light pollution since early 2023, adding that his work is being done as a wholly independent study. Patel said he won’t be graded on his work – he feels the issue is too important to be ignored.

“Not many people are conscious of light pollution as a whole,” said Patel. “Light pollution affects peoples’ sleep cycles, for instance.”

Some early studies, he noted, point to a possible connection between light pollution and different forms of cancer, including higher rates of breast, prostate and lung cancer. He stressed, however, that more research needs to be done.

Light pollution, said Patel, can also affect the environment. Some animals, he explained, are drawn toward highly-lit urban communities, while others are being repelled by the unnatural glow.

“Light pollution tends to be an environmental disruptor,” he said.

Results of the community survey will initially be sent to Patel, who will then pass them along to the town sometime in January. So far, he said, he has only received 15 or 16 completed surveys.

“However, we’re still creating more posters and doing more social media outreach in the hope that people will respond,” he said.

Patel said after graduating from Athol High, he plans to earn an undergraduate degree in environmental science, after which he will attend law school.

“I would love to continue environmental advocacy and conduct environmental research regarding topics affecting marginalized communities,” he said.

To fill out the survey, visit https://tinyurl.com/5n8krmf8. For more information on light pollution, go to https://darksky.org/.