The Problem of Visual Pollution

Visual pollution refers to anything that prevents people from enjoying what they see. In the modern world, two main types can be identified. The first occurs when visibility is limited by haze, a kind of air that contains particles such as smoke or dust that make it difficult to see clearly. The second is visual untidiness, which happens when buildings, signs and other structures spoil an otherwise attractive view. Although the two types have different causes, both affect the way people experience the places where they live, work and travel.

Air pollution produced by cars and factories reduces visibility. Over many large cities it hangs like a brown haze, but its effects are not limited to urban areas, since it also reaches the countryside. In one study, scientists measured visibility at a national park in the United States. They found that on a clear day 3it was possible to see for 320 kilometres, whereas on a hazy day 10this distance fell to only 48 kilometres. Such figures show how dramatically pollution can change even a natural landscape far from industrial centres. Visitors who travel long distances to admire famous views may therefore be disappointed when the scenery is hidden behind a grey curtain of polluted air.

Transport and industry are both major man-made sources of air pollution, but 6haze can also come from natural sources, such as smoke from forest fires. The pollution responsible for haze is capable of travelling thousands of kilometres. In Southeast Asia, haze from huge forest fires has 11cost billions of dollars in health care, and the fires have also discouraged many tourists from visiting the region over the last decade. Fires in Sumatra and Borneo have affected not only Indonesia but also Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Many of these fires were started by developers, often illegally, 1because they wanted to clear the land for building or farming. It is possible that some of them will continue to burn for years.

While scientists are able to measure haze, opinions about other forms of visual pollution vary considerably. Wind turbines, billboards, power lines, mobile phone towers and even modern buildings can all provoke different reactions. 4To a businessman, a billboard in a good location may appear beautiful because it attracts customers. To a traveller who would like to see the hills or the pretty village behind it, however, the same billboard is simply visual pollution. In other words, whether something spoils a view often depends on who is looking at it.

As more people began to drive in the mid-20th century, businesses started placing large advertising hoardings next to busy roads. By the 1960s, however, many people had begun to complain about them, arguing that they 12stopped drivers from focusing on the road. More recent examples of visual pollution include mobile phone towers and spray-painted graffiti. Some mobile phone towers have been 2designed to look like trees or plants, which has reduced their visual impact. In contrast, attempts to ban the sale of spray paint to young people 7have not had much effect. These examples suggest that clever design can sometimes succeed where rules and restrictions fail.

But do these more subjective forms of visual pollution really matter? The dangerous effects of air pollution are obvious, as more and more people suffer from breathing problems. However, research suggests that other types of visual pollution may also have harmful effects. One study found that 5people with an unpleasant view from their window were 40 percent 13more likely to feel sad or depressed. In addition, several studies have shown that the physical environment influences stress levels. Being in beautiful surroundings, for example beside a lake or in a forest, tends to make people feel more relaxed. This suggests that what we see every day may affect our health and well-being more than many people realise.

A further consequence of visual pollution is that it destroys the individual differences that make the world so special. In the past, every town, city and suburb had its own unique character. Today, 8places all over the world are starting to look the same. Identical fast-food restaurants, billboards, motorways and petrol stations can be found almost everywhere. As a result, a traveller arriving in a new city may find it surprisingly hard to tell which country they are in. Although this trend has a negative effect on the quality of life, 9it is probably already too late to change the situation.