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Maisons-Alfort (France) (AFP) – The "blue light" in LED lighting can damage the retina of the eye and disrupt natural sleep rhythms, said this week the French government in charge of the health.
New findings confirm previous concerns that "exposure to intense and powerful exposure [LED] The light is "photo-toxic" and can lead to irreversible loss of retinal cells and a decrease in the sharpness of vision, "warned the French Food Safety Agency, of the French Ministry of Health. environment and work (ANSES) in a statement.
In a 400-page report, the agency recommended revising the upper limit of acute exposure, even though these levels were rarely reached at home or at work.
The report distinguishes between acute exposure to high intensity LED light and "chronic exposure" to sources of lower intensity.
Although it is less dangerous, even chronic exposure can "accelerate the aging of retinal tissue, thus contributing to a decline in visual acuity and some degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration. ", concluded the agency.
Energy-saving, inexpensive long-life light-emitting diode (LED) technology has consumed half of the general lighting market in one decade and will exceed 60% by the end of next year, according to sector.
LEDs use only one-fifth of the electricity required for an incandescent bulb of comparable brightness.
The leading manufacturers of LED bulbs in the world are GE Lighting, Osram and Philips.
The basic technology used to produce white light combines a short wavelength LED, such as blue or ultraviolet, with a yellow phosphor coating. The more white or "colder" the light, the greater the proportion of blue in the spectrum.
– Circadian rhythm –
LEDs are used for lighting homes and streets, as well as in offices and industry.
We also find more and more in automatic headlights, torches and some toys.
Francine Behar-Cohen, ophthalmologist and head of the group of experts who conducted the review, explains that the screens of mobile phones, tablets and laptops LED do not present any risk of eye damage, because their brightness is very low compared to other types of lighting.
But these backlit devices – especially when they are used at night or in a dark environment – can "disrupt biological rhythms, and hence sleep patterns," warned the agency.
Since the crystalline lenses of their eyes are not completely formed, children and adolescents are particularly susceptible to such disturbances, said ANSES reports.
Dina Attia, researcher and project manager at ANSES, is also known to interfere with the circadian rhythm of the body and aggravate metabolic disorders such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some forms of cancer.
In addition, a stroboscopic effect in some LED lamps, caused by slight fluctuations in electrical current, can induce "headaches, visual fatigue and a higher risk of accidents," the report says.
For domestic lighting, ANSES recommended to buy a "warm white" LED lighting, limiting exposure to LED sources with high concentration of blue light and avoiding the screens LED before bedtime.
ANSES also said that manufacturers should "limit the light intensity of vehicle headlights", some of which are too bright.
Finally, the agency has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of certain filters and sunglasses "anti-blue light".
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