A recently-published report concludes that LED lamps and displays appear to pose no direct adverse health effects among the general healthy population. However, it found that gaps exist in our understanding of potential LED health hazards, and other population groups may be at risk. For example, exposure to LEDs and other lights in the late evening affect our circadian rhythm. LEDs may also have specific effects on young children and the elderly.
Among its findings, the review conducted by the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks noted that:- Children are more sensitive to blue light. Moreover, although emissions may not be harmful, blue LEDs (between 400 nm and 500 nm) may induce photochemical retinopathy. This is a concern, especially for children under three years of age.
- Elderly people may experience discomfort with exposure to LED systems, including blue LED displays. For example, destination displays on the front of buses may appear blurred.
- Reliable information on the dose-response relationship for adverse health effects among the healthy general public is not available for all wavelengths emitted by LEDs.
- Spectrum of an LED light source
- Lighting intensity, especially in the blue part of the spectrum
- Duration of exposure
- Exposure level of the eyes or skin
- Eye or skin health
- Direct staring without deviation versus active eye movement
- The irradiance (the flux of optical radiation that reaches a target, distance dependent)
- The radiance (radiation flux leaving the source depending on emission angle, independent of distance to target)
- The duration of exposure