Can LED Lighting Impact Our Health?
LED Lighting: are the perceived risks overestimated?
As licensed electricians in San Antonio, we strive to bring our clients a better understanding of cutting-edge electrical products such as LED lighting systems and their effects on our quality of life. This article deals with questions regarding some perceived dangers of LED lighting for our health. As you will discover reading the summarized scientific literature we quote, LED lighting is very safe to use. But an overexposure can produce undesirable effects on our eyes and our quality of sleep.
LED lighting technology: A work in progress
LED technology has changed the face of lighting in private homes and public buildings by providing a more color-truthful, more intense, and more modulable source of artificial light than any previous lighting technology before.
But the technology behind this new type of light has not been perfect from the get-go. It is actually still improving. In the process, medical science discovered that some aspects of LED technology could create risks for users. These risks have been and are still being addressed and resolved to make this technology safe for use in private and public spaces.
Today, LED lighting is very safe to use but must also be accompanied with certain precautions to avoid overuse leading to damaging our eyes, for instance.
People still have questions about the long-term impact of LED lighting on health, so we have decided to discuss some of these questions using research studies.
LED lighting and scientific research
We will look at the scientific research published on two key aspects of LED lighting technology on human health:
- Visual and non-visual functions: Research indicates that LED lighting can influence visual comfort and physiological responses, including melatonin secretion (affecting sleep quality) and heart rate variability (affecting stress levels and the cardiovascular system).
- Sleep and quality of sleep: Research indicates that LED lighting can disrupt melatonin secretion, potentially leading to sleep disturbances. Some people may have a more difficult time falling asleep, experience interrupted or fragmented sleep, or experience a reduced sleep duration.
Bottom line
Research has proven that LED lighting is very safe to use, both in homes and in professional environments (office, retail stores, factory floor). However, it should be noted that these studies conclude that periods of rest or break are needed to avoid damaging the eye and affecting performance. We advise homeowners and business owners to schedule breaks during which family members and employees use natural light as much as possible to relax their eyes.
We also note that using LED-lit devices emitting blue light has long term consequences for the eye, and that these devices should be used with blue light blocking glasses or with internal blue light filters.
LED lighting technology has made big strides in reducing its initial issues. As technology progresses, LEDs will be even more harmless and safe to use. In the end, it is up to each person to research the pros and cons, consider several technologies, and make their own decision as to what lighting technology they use.
If you have any questions about your electrical installation or would like to discuss any project for your home or professional buildings, don’t hesitate to contact us at (210) 391-0274 for an evaluation and an estimate.
