Are LEDs Dangerous?

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Everything You Need to Know About LED Lighting

The cooler colors of blue in these LEDs contribute to the dangers of LED lighting.

LEDs are touted as the lighting solution of the future; phasing out harmful and less efficient halogen and CFD lights, light emitting diodes can be found in nearly every facet of our society, from conventional lighting solutions to the display of your computer, television, or phone.

However, some studies suggest there may be dangerous tradeoffs to our health associated with our widespread adoption of LEDs, primarily from the emission of blue light.

​Are these risks truly a critical concern? If so, how can we mitigate their effects?

Blue Light and Sleep

Primarily, the dangers of blue light lie in its conflict with our circadian rhythm.

The circadian rhythm is the biological process driving our sleep cycles.

Blue light is good for stimulation during the day and keeping us alert; therefore, exposure to large amounts of blue light during nighttime disrupts the circadian rhythm, causing sleep to suffer.

​While researchers have suggested a link between excessive blue light exposure to types of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, organizations such as Harvard Medical School highlight that these results are “not proof that nighttime light exposure causes these conditions.” [1]

Regardless, getting a good night’s sleep is important; thus, it is paramount we exercise caution and minimize our blue light exposure.

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Minimizing Blue Light Exposure

There are several solutions to the problem of blue light exposure; major tech companies such as Apple have already applied methods including shift to red light in the night and morning to mitigate any ill consequences. Among some steps you can take yourself:

• Use dim red lights for night lights. Red light has the least power to shift circadian rhythm and suppress melatonin. [1]
• Avoid looking at bright screens beginning two to three hours before bed. [1]
• If you work a night shift or use a lot of electronic devices at night, consider wearing blue-blocking glasses or installing an app that filters the blue/green wavelength at night. [1]
• Expose yourself to lots of bright light during the day, which will boost your ability to sleep at night, as well as your mood and alertness during daylight. [1]

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Everything You Need to Know About LED Lighting

Choose SiteLites

There are other factors that impact your exposure to blue light, including intensity of the lights you are using.

Luckily, there are lighting solutions you can choose that reduce the negative impacts of excessive blue light intensity while retaining the necessary power you need to keep working.

SiteLites is a premiere option that includes flexible options for your light’s intensity.

With various intensity modes on several of our SiteLites, to 360-degree adjustability that disperses your light rather than concentrating it, our products are designed to keep you safe.

Most importantly, our lights have adjustable bases extending well above the eye level, minimizing the hazards to you of blue light. With a myriad of design options around your health, let SiteLites help keep you safe on and off the job site.

​Sources:
[1] https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side

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Written by: Martin Stavro

SiteLites provide the perfect LED work light for your project. All SiteLites lights are AC/DC power capable, so you can power your lights with vehicle ports, generators, and standard extensions cords & outlets.