UCL researchers warn LED lighting may be damaging our health
Researchers at University College London, led by Professor Glen Jeffery, warn that modern LED lighting may pose a serious and overlooked health risk due to its high proportion of short-wavelength blue light. Jeffery compares the potential health hazard to asbestos, suggesting a qualitative difference in light emission compared to traditional sources.
Why it matters
This research challenges the widely accepted benefits of LED technology by raising concerns about potential long-term health impacts, which could influence public health guidelines, lighting design, and consumer choices globally. It suggests a hidden cost to a technology adopted for sustainability.
Most of us barely think about the light above our heads. We switch it on at home, work under it in offices, walk beneath it in streets and sit beneath it in hospitals, shops and classrooms.
But what if the artificial light that surrounds us every day is actually a health hazard, something doing us harm?
This might, on the surface, sound preposterous. After all, the ubiquitous LED light bulb was ushered in with a compelling promise to reduce the energy needed to create artificial light by up to 90 per cent . Its adoption has helped to tackle climate change while also reducing costs. Before LEDs were introduced, lighting used to account for around 20 per cent of global electricity consumption . Now it stands at around 8 per cent . In addition, LED bulbs can last far longer than incandescent bulbs.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in