You might’ve heard concerns that LED lights can cause problems for your health, including sleeplessness and worse. Let’s dispel the myths.
LED light bulbs have been around for a while, but widespread use of LED lights only began about 10 years ago. It’s natural to be skeptical of new technology, especially when it’s more complicated than what we’re used to.
Some people were (and may still be) wary of installing LED lights in place of their trusty incandescent lights. Among the most common concerns our customers have about LED lighting has to do with its impact on health. There are a lot of myths out there that suggest LED lights can harm your well-being. We’re going to take a look at some of these myths to help you understand the true risks of LED lighting and what it means for you and your home.
Are there health risks from using LED lights?
In short: no, there aren’t any risks of using LED lights. There are considerations you need to make for any kind of lighting since lighting does affect mood and circadian rhythm, both of which contribute to your overall health. We’ll get into that later, though. Let’s tackle some of the scarier misconceptions first.
Do LED lights emit electromagnetic radiation?
All light, including visible light, emits some level of radiation. Radiation is a word that can set off alarm bells in people’s minds because it’s associated with severe health consequences. But severe health impacts are only caused by extreme levels of radiation.
Can LED lights cause cancer?
No, LED lights do not give you cancer. UV light is a type of light that can damage your skin, and even heighten your risk of cancer. But LED lights do not emit UV light, and even in the few types of LED bulbs that do (usually brilliant blue lights), the level is barely detectable and doesn’t pose a threat to health. In fact, types of lighting that DO emit UV include fluorescent and incandescent bulbs.
As far as health impact goes, there is something to consider with LED lighting, and that’s the intensity of blue light emitted.
How do LED lights affect your sleep?
If you work with computers or interact with screens (even phones!) every day, you are probably aware of “blue light” as something that can be harmful. Maybe you even have a pair of blue light glasses to help filter out this type of light. Blue light is a component of light on the shorter end of the spectrum of visible light. In contrast, red light is on the opposite side, and emits long wavelengths.
While it’s true that intense levels of blue light can harm your eyes, the level of blue light emitted from LED light bulbs or your screens just isn’t enough to cause damage. In domestic settings, including devices such as your phone and TV, you don’t need to worry about eye damage. You get much more exposure to blue light in the outdoors.
Is it bad to sleep with LED lights on?
You might be familiar with the recommendation to avoid screen usage before bed. Wondering why? Our brain interprets blue light as daylight, which affects our circadian rhythms — or the bodily function that regulates our sleep and energy levels. Staring at our phones or watching TV right before bed can delay the production of melatonin, the hormone that induces sleepiness. Therefore, blue light should be avoided an hour before sleep to ensure healthy sleep routines.
In summary, LED lights do not pose harm to our well-being.
Industrial settings are an exception and do increase exposure to UV rays, but workers should be equipped with protective gear. LED also emits minimal amounts of blue light that can disrupt sleep patterns if used right before bed — hence the recommendation to put the phone down and turn to a screen-free routine before sleeping.
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