The switch to LEDs has made the problem worse, but even with sodium vapor lights and other older outdoor lighting, light pollution has been a growing problem for almost a century. The core problem is that nighttime isn't supposed to be bright, no matter the color. It's supposed to be dark, and life on this planet (including us) evolved for that condition. Moreover, most lighting fixtures to date allow light to spray all over the landscape (often reducing safety and security) and up into the sky (where it does nobody any good and only wastes energy).

If you haven't, you might want to look into the resources available from the International Dark Sky Association. Through their research, they are advocating smarter lighting, which can enhance safety and security while protecting human health and the natural world. Key aspects of smarter lighting (in addition to the color issue) are full-cutoff fixtures that reduce glare and light trespass, and motion detectors for lighting that doesn't need to be on all night long.