Increase in LED lighting ‘risks harming human and animal health’

According to a study, blue light from artificial sources could have negative consequences for human health and the environment.

European countries are using different types of lighting technology at night to illuminate streets and buildings. The orange-coloured emissions from older sodium lights are being replaced by white-coloured emissions produced by LEDs.

The researchers say that the increased blue light radiation associated with it is causing a lot of biological impacts. Previous research has underestimated the effects of blue light radiation, according to the study.

The ability of blue light to suppress melatonin is one of the health consequences of it. A variety of chronic health conditions can be caused by increased exposure to artificial blue light.

The study says that the visibility of stars in the night sky may be affected by the increase in blue light radiation. Blue light can change the behavior of bats and other animals as it can make them move towards or away from light sources.

The UK is listed as one of the countries that are most affected by the transition to LEDs. The majority of street lights in the UK were powered by LEDs.

Italy, Romania, Ireland, and Spain were identified as countries that were more vulnerable to the effects of blue light radiation due to their recent transitions to LEDs. Older gas and fluorescent bulbs still power a lot of Austria and Germany's night lighting.

Science Advances is a journal.

Professor Evans, who was not involved in the study, hailed it as an extraordinary piece of work, and said it aligned with his own findings on how local street lighting has reduced the number of nocturnal insects.

Evans said that the transition to LEDs in the UK didn't consider the ecological and human costs.

David Smith, of the charity Buglife, said that light pollution can have a huge impact on animals. We need to relieve them from all pressures to give them the best chance of recovery.

Smith wants the UK government to set national targets to reduce light pollution.

Better quality lighting that is harmonious with our natural world is what we should be focusing on. Better quality and lower levels of lighting would help save energy and money.

Evans says there are encouraging signs that action is being taken to reduce the impact of LEDs. He points out that the Isle of Wight uses warmer bulbs that emit less blue light than the ones on the other side of the ocean.