There aren't more than 40 neon signs in Mumbai. Most of them are on six-storeyed buildings at Chowpatty and the rest scattered across Worli, Prabhadevi and Mahim. The signs measure 40 feet by 20 feet on an average. There are no major advertisers in neon, and the signs are mainly corporate in nature, from Indian companies and multinationals.

Neons are one of the most minor aspects of city life. You'd think residents would be more affected by noise pollution and street lights than by neon signs.

There's no concrete scientific data to back the claim that neon signs are harmful to human health.Neon is a harmless, inert gas filled into glass tubes which are 15 mm thick. The light emitted by it is of very low intensity. Even in the western world, where they have signs aplenty and environment rules are stringent, no restrictions have been imposed on them.

Studies conducted by experts in US have fixed a Threshold Limiting Value or TLV. But this was for laser lights. The TLV, or maximum unit of light above which would have chemical effects on the human body, was fixed at one CD/CM2.

After a survey of neon signs in Mumbai, the committee appointed by the state government found very low emissions. The India Kings signboard at Opera House was the brightest. But even this was just 0.007 of one CD/CM2. Others were still lower at 0.0005 each.

But as a courtesy to residents, we switch off neon signs at 11 pm and turn them on at 6.30 am.

(Lalit Soi is proprietor of Bombay Neon, one of the leading neon manufacturers in the city.)