Article

Some evidences that white LEDs are toxic for human at domestic radiance?

¹ Emergency Lighting Design and Qualification Department, CS SAS, rue Beethoven, BP 10184, 63204 Riom cedex, France.
² Medical Studies Department, EDF, Levallois, France.

^* Corresponding author: sebastienpoint@eaton.com

Received: 3 April 2017
Accepted: 26 July 2017

Abstract

Artificial lighting has been a fundamental part of social and economic development of mankind. It allows to free human activity from natural variations and conditions (weather, day/night cycle, variation of day length depending on season and latitude…). The face of this artificial lighting has changed in the last years with the emergence of white phosphor coated LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) which offer many advantages in terms of reliability, efficiency and implementation. However, it is subject to special attention because their spectrum is typically rich in blue. Damages following exposure to high radiance blue light are well documented but some recent concerns have appeared regarding potential damages linked to white LEDs exposure at domestic radiance. Are these concerns justified? This article analyses some results of a recent study of animal retina exposure to light produced by LED technology and demonstrates that even if they are of interest in improving our understanding of the mechanisms of photochemical injury, they cannot be extrapolated to human without extreme caution and do not call into question the normative limits which are now the consensus.