Search the EPA Research Database

Project title

BLUe light phototoxicity: exploRing the effects on human heAlth and biodiversitY in Ireland

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)

Lead Applicant

George Amarandei

Project Abstract

In recent years, the planned withdrawal of incandescent lamps, coupled with urbanisation, and increased human infrastructure have led to a sharp increase in light-emitting diode (LED) systems. Notably, LEDs are energy efficient, using approximately 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. On a negative note, LED systems contain more blue light (higher energy), which may have deleterious effects on human health and the environment. The blue-light content of incandescent lamps is relatively low (≈ 9%), while screens are strictly regulated in relation to blue-light exposure and brightness. Depending on their correlated colour temperature (CCT), LEDs can have between 15% to 47% high-intensity blue-light in their spectrum. This is concerning as short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation (including blue-light) is toxic to the eye and disrupts circadian rhythms, impacting human health. Plants and animals live on a 24-hour cycle governed by the sun. Humans depend on environmental signals (daylight) to see and regulate their internal biological clock informing sleep cycles, daily rhythms of blood pressure, heart rate, hormone secretion and many more physiological processes. For this reason the European Environment Agency (EEA), in their 2022 report, recognised the issue of increased and ubiquitous blue-light exposure in our environment since LED adoption, raising questions about potentially harmful effects on human health and wellbeing (e.g. effects on eye health, sleep disorders, stress response to hormonal imbalance, diabetes, cancer occurrence etc) and the environment (e.g. loss of biodiversity, species richness, changes in predation and migration). Of further concern, during the Covid-19 pandemic, control measures increased time spent indoors, with younger vulnerable generations experiencing protracted periods exposed to intense blue-light, potentially impacting their health and wellbeing. Thus, the EEA recommends introducing new thresholds, guidelines and policies to minimise the effects of blue-light exposure. This is vital as LEDs present new issues are related to colour rendering, illuminance, brightness variation (particularly around 100 Hz frequency), spectral composition, flickering (including spectral components flickering), CCT etc. To date, in Ireland (and other EU countries) no policies exist, only non-binding guidelines, to mitigate the adverse health effects caused by blue-light exposure and light-pollution. Although LEDs are progressively replacing incandescent/halogen lamps in Ireland, the guidelines issued by EPA and SEAI relate to energy efficiency and brightness/glare (as described in the Mayo Dark Sky project), with minimal thresholds mentioned regarding other LED characteristics. Blu-RAY project will address this deficit by generating baseline data reporting the current situation in Ireland, evaluating the effects LEDs have: (1) indoors (monitoring blue light exposure in vulnerable sub-populations i.e. children/young adults, night-workers etc), focusing on the visual (phototoxicity) and non-visual (circadian and sleep disruption) effects; and (2) outdoors (establishing the effects of Light-pollution, in addition to blue-lights interactions with other pollutants). Moreover, this project will investigate the potential toxicity of long-term cumulative exposure and the dose-response effect, which are currently unknown and were raised as concerns by the recent EEA report. Proposed desk, lab, and field studies will establish baselines with policymakers and professional associations to inform new Irish regulations to meet the new criteria envisaged by EEA.

Grant Approved

�364,889.20

Research Hub

Healthy Environment

Research Theme

Addressing the Societal Dimension of Environmental Challenges

Start Date

30/03/2024

Initial Projected Completion Date

29/03/2027