March 21, 2023

In a context of energy saving policies and the withdrawal of traditional lamps (incandescent lamps and conventional halogen lamps) from the lighting market, LEDs are experiencing a considerable expansion due to their energy efficient performance. Thus, in a few decades, the exposure of the population to blue light has increased sharply, especially in the evening with artificial lighting or screens rich in blue light. Indeed, LEDs, due to their technological specificity, can emit light rich in short wavelengths, called “rich in blue”, and more intense lighting than other light sources, which can induce effects on human health and the environment.

At the very beginning of the deployment of this technology, ANSES’s first expert appraisal highlighted the toxicity for the retina of the blue light present in LED lighting and therefore recommended adapting the regulatory and normative framework. Consequently, currently for domestic lighting, only LED lamps of risk groups 0 or 1 (in accordance with the photobiological safety standard NF-EN-62471) are accessible to the general public. The lights most at risk (groups 2 and 3) are reserved for professional use under conditions guaranteeing the safety of workers.

Today, ANSES is publishing a new expert appraisal encompassing all LED systems and taking into account all the scientific data acquired since 2010.

New effects highlighted related to the blue light of LEDs

The new scientific data supports the 2010 finding on the toxicity of blue light to the eye, which can lead to visual impairment. They show short-term phototoxic effects linked to acute exposure and long-term effects linked to chronic exposure, which increase the risk of occurrence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). “Warm white” type LED domestic lighting is indistinguishable from traditional lighting and presents a low risk of phototoxicity. On the other hand, other types of LED lighting such as torches, car headlights, decorations or toys, can emit particularly rich blue lights and belong to risk group 2, but they are not covered. by current regulations.

Furthermore, the expert report shows that even very low exposure to blue-rich light in the evening or at night disrupts biological rhythms and therefore sleep. ANSES stresses that the screens of computers, smartphones and tablets in particular are major sources of light rich in blue and children and adolescents, whose eyes do not fully filter out blue light, constitute a particularly sensitive population.

The expertise also shows that a high proportion of LED lamps show significant variations in light intensity. Certain populations such as children, adolescents and professionals, might be more sensitive to the potential effects induced by this modulation of light: headaches, visual fatigue, accidental risk, etc.

Change the regulations and better inform the population regarding the risks associated with exposure to blue light

In view of the results of its expert appraisal, ANSES is issuing a series of recommendations to limit the population’s exposure to blue-rich light. The Agency reiterates the importance of favoring “warm white” type domestic lighting (color temperature below 3,000 K). In order to prevent the effects of disruption of biological rhythms, it recommends limiting the exposure of populations, and in particular children, to the rich blue light of LED screens (mobile phones, tablets, computers, etc.) before bedtime. and during the night.

Furthermore, ANSES recommends changing the regulatory framework applying to all LED systems and in particular:

• restrict the availability of LED objects to the general public to those in photobiological risk group 0 or 1;
• limit the light intensity of the headlights of motor vehicles, while guaranteeing road safety;
• minimize the level of temporal modulation of the light emitted by all light sources (lights, screens, LED objects).

On the other hand, concerning the means of protection available to the general public such as treated glasses, protective glasses or specific screens, the Agency stresses that their effectiveness once morest the effects on the retina of blue light is very variable. . Moreover, their effectiveness for the preservation of circadian rhythms is not proven today. ANSES encourages the establishment of standards defining the performance criteria for protective equipment with respect to blue light.

An impact on biodiversity and the environment

Concerning the environment, the studies available relate mainly to artificial light at night in general and not specifically to LEDs. Whatever the ecosystem studied, scientific knowledge convergently shows an increase in mortality and an impoverishment in the diversity of the animal and plant species studied in environments lit at night, including by LED lighting. The Agency recommends strengthening the regulations in order to limit light pollution, while ensuring the safety of people.