LED lights harmful?
The Dubai Municipality will launch awareness campaigns to educate residents on the use of LED lighting applications. Experts say awareness on exposure and its effects on mental health need to be highlighted
dubai — LED lights may be rapidly replacing high-energy bulbs across cities throughout the world to save on energy consumption and cost, but are they making society ill?
Earlier this year, a paper published in the World Journal of Biological Psychiatry warned of the potential effects of LED lighting on mental health. And it has been raising eyebrows ever since. As governments around the world, including the UAE, are working extensively to replace standard bulbs with these more energy-efficient ones in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment, the paper raised concerns about the influence of blue light — emitted by LED bulbs and digital gadgets — on sleep, and other circadianmediated symptoms. Although several studies show that exposure to blue light can disrupt sleep, leading to impacts on quality of life, physical and mental health and susceptibility to illness, local experts said the impact depends on the intensity and duration of light exposure.
“It is generally recommended to avoid exposure to strong light (like LED lights and bright screens) two to three hours before going to sleep,” said Dr Carl-Johan Ramberg, consultant neurologist at German Neuroscience Centre in Dubai.
The need for companies and governments to transition to LED lamps makes sense, as cities across the world produce over 60 per cent of all carbon emissions and are responsible for consuming 78 per cent of all energy globally. But awareness on exposure and its effects on mental health do need to be highlighted.
It is recommended to avoid exposure to strong light (like LED lights and bright screens) two to three hours before going to sleep.”
Dr Carl-Johan Ramberg, consultant neurologist at German Neuroscience Centre
dubai — As governments around the world, including the UAE, are working extensively to replace high energy bulbs with LED lights, new psychiatric studies that warn against the negative effects of the energy-saving light have been raising eyebrows.
Earlier this year, a group of psychiatrists published a paper in the World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, warning of the potential effects of LED lighting on mental illness.
It raised concerns about the influence of blue light, emitted by LED bulbs and digital gadgets, on sleep, and other circadian-mediated symptoms.
Although studies show that exposure to blue light inhibits melatonin secretion, which disrupts sleep and can affect quality of life, physical and mental health and susceptibility to illness, local experts confirmed the impact depends on the intensity and duration of light exposure.
Dr Carl-Johan Ramberg, consultant neurologist at German Neuroscience Centre in Dubai, confirmed that the use of light treatment may induce mania in people with bipolar disorder. Since light reduces melatonin, the hormone that puts humans to sleep, adolescents with sleep disorders may be impacted negatively by the exposure to blue light and digital devices.
“It is generally recommended to avoid exposure to strong light (like LED lights and bright screens) two to three hours before going to sleep.”
Studies show that 15,000 lux of light is needed to suppress melatonin with eyes closed. The brightness of a computer screen (assume a computer screen of 40x30cm and a viewing distance of 0.6m) or TV is approximately 67-167 lux. The brightness of light fixtures in an office environment is usually approximately 500 lux.
Our smartphone screen generates 7,000-8,000k range of light, more than the colour temperature of the daylight, overcast sky that emits 6,500k.
Ramberg confirmed that the impact of LED lights depends on the intensity and wavelengths of the exposure. The higher the intensity of the light, the greater the impact it has on the human body and circadian cycle.
“The highest amount of melatonin is released around 5am,
Light levels produced by LED street lighting are too low to affect the hormone levels governing our sleep behaviour.”
Spokesperson, Signify
With all sectors shifting to LED lights, we need to get people on board, especially when the country is now talking about sustainability.” Ahmed Saeed Al Badwawi, Dubai Municipality
making you the most tired. The more light you expose the body to closer to this time of the day, the more likely you’ll sense an impact. If you get strong light exposure late in the evening, it will make it difficult to fall asleep. If you get it in the morning, it will make it easier to wake up,” said Ramberg.
Companies and governments
have been investing heavily in LED lamps in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment. It makes a difference given that cities across the world produce over 60 per cent of all carbon emissions and are responsible for consuming 78 per cent of all energy globally.
The recent noteworthy initiative
in this regard is by Signify (formerly called Phillips Lighting), where the company has developed LED lamps in a research partnership with the Dubai Municipality.
Dubai to increase awareness on LED light usage
Ahmed Saeed Al Badwawi, director of the applied sustainability
and renewable energy department at the Dubai Municipality (DM), said the commercial sector is more aware about LED lighting applications. The municipality will launch awareness campaigns to educate residents on the importance of changing their home lights to energy-saving bulbs.
Although Dubai Lamps has
been widely available in the markets, the civic body reported lower demand among residents. “With all sectors across the country shifting to LED lights, we need to get people on board, especially when the country is now talking about sustainability,” said Al Badwawi.