Correspondence: An appraisal of the effects on human health and the environment of using light-emitting diodes
Abstract
In May 2019, a collective appraisal report of the effects on human health and the environment of systems using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) was published by ANSES, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. Here, the experts involved in this work provide an overview of their conclusions and recommendations. We first confirmed the retinal phototoxicity of an acute exposure to blue light in humans and to high correlated colour temperature (CCT) white light in animal models. This is the well-known blue light hazard. Concerning cumulative exposure, epidemiological studies have shown that there is a long-term contribution of blue light to the occurrence of age-related macular degeneration. Since cold-white LEDs emit more blue light than lower CCT light sources, they have a stronger impact. We underlined the need to update the retinal exposure limits for blue light and pay particular attention to children, whose ocular tissues transmit more blue light than adult tissues. Measurements were performed on LED devices including lamps, automotive headlights, electronic displays, flashlights and toys. Some of the tested LED light sources were associated with higher exposure levels to blue light than those associated with older lighting technologies. This was the case of LED-based low-beam automotive headlights which were shown to significantly increase the exposure of children to the retinal blue light hazard. We have recommended adapting the regulatory…
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