{"id":7670,"date":"2026-06-19T11:42:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T11:42:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/can-you-trust-led-lights-do-they-have-negative-effects-on-health\/"},"modified":"2026-07-04T11:00:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T11:00:17","slug":"can-you-trust-led-lights-do-they-have-negative-effects-on-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/en\/can-you-trust-led-lights-do-they-have-negative-effects-on-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you trust LED lights? Do they have negative effects on health?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br\/>Risks<em>  with LED lights in our everyday lives! We explain what to keep in mind, the latest research findings, and why we prefer good old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The article consists of two parts.  <br\/>1) A brief overview of LED lighting and its risks.  <br\/>2) Next, an article from Japan that we translated\u2014an interview with a Japanese researcher about the effects of blue LED light on animals and humans. We think this is an interesting article, since the blue LED was invented in Japan and there has been a great deal of discussion in Japan ever since about its potential risks.<br\/><br\/>If you&#8217;re interested in your health and the environment, we highly recommend that you continue reading Part 2.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br\/><strong>LED Technology at a Glance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In recent years, LED lights have become a part of everyday life because they are energy-efficient and have a reasonably long lifespan. But here at Valfrids, we&#8217;re skeptical of the technology. The EU has banned the manufacture of traditional incandescent light bulbs. We think it&#8217;s crazy. Consumers should be given the freedom to choose. There are so many unanswered questions about LED technology.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In recent years, LED lighting has begun to be used in convenience stores and supermarkets, in LCD screens on smartphones, tablets, and computers, in street lighting, and on highways.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br\/>LED lights offer benefits such as energy savings and a long lifespan, but they can also have negative effects on health and the environment. The most commonly cited risks associated with LED lights are:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Effects of Blue Light on the Eyes and Sleep<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Effects of Flicker<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The risk of damage to the retina<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Environmental Pollution<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Risks associated with the b<\/strong><strong>impact of light on the eyes and sleep<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because LED lights emit a relatively high amount of blue light, prolonged use can cause eye strain and impaired vision.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are reports that using it at night inhibits the secretion of melatonin (the sleep hormone), which can lead to insomnia and poorer sleep quality.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br\/><strong>Effects of Flicker in LED Lights<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some LED lights flash rapidly (flicker), which can strain the eyes and cause headaches and stress.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prolonged use may impair your ability to concentrate while studying or working.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Flicker can be problematic for animals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br\/>Do your LED lights look like this in slow motion?<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"LED Lights in Slow Motion \ud83d\ude33 This Is Why Your Nervous System Feels Off\" width=\"1020\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A702s9jdVt4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br\/><strong>Intense LED light can pose a risk to the retina<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It has been pointed out that bright, blue-white LED light can damage the retina with prolonged use and that there are risks of vision loss, loss of visual field, and macular degeneration.<br\/><br\/>It seems that the light from LED bulbs is harmful not only to the eyes, but to the entire body. More on that below in the interview with the Japanese researcher. After a group of Japanese researchers invented the blue LED and were awarded the Nobel Prize for it, there was debate in Japan over whether LED lights are truly safe. Discussions that usually didn&#8217;t reach us here in Europe, where politicians enthusiastically embraced the technology and forced it upon the people.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br\/><strong>LED lights are harmful to the environment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">LED lights contain hazardous substances such as lead and arsenic. In addition, their complex design makes them difficult to recycle.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It has also been reported that the bright light from LED lamps contributes to a decline in insect populations, affects wildlife, and has negative effects on the natural environment.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Review how you use LED lights outdoors and follow your municipality&#8217;s regulations when disposing of them.<br\/><br\/><em>One gets the sense here that LED lighting isn&#8217;t healthy and isn&#8217;t environmentally friendly!<br\/><br\/>How does this affect animals in the wild and pets? We believe that they are more severely affected by flickering than we humans are, since they have a keener sense of perception and can perceive the flickering more clearly than we do.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br\/><strong>If the health effects of LED lighting (blue light) on the human body are beginning to receive attention because<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"height:26px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Interview with Ken Watanabe, Ph.D. in Physics &#8211;<br\/><\/strong>Originally published on kokusyo.jp and translated by us at Valfrids (slightly abridged).<br\/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kokusyo.jp\/led\/7181\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.kokusyo.jp\/led\/7181\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physics to three Japanese researchers who contributed to the development of blue LEDs, extensive PR campaigns promoting LED lighting have been carried out. At the same time, evidence has begun to emerge that blue LED light may have harmful effects on the human body.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last December, a research team at Tohoku University published its findings in the British scientific journal *Scientific Reports*, showing that insects died after being exposed to blue LED light.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, Gifu University of Pharmaceutical Sciences published research findings in the same journal showing that blue LED light can cause diseases that lead to blindness, such as macular degeneration.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, other risks have been reported, such as deformities in tropical fish exposed to LED light.<br\/><br\/><em>What are the characteristics of LED lights, exactly? We asked Ken Watanabe, Ph.D. in natural sciences, who says, \u201cLED lighting, which has so far been considered \u2018safe,\u2019 is not such a simple matter,\u201d about the risks and how to manage them.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br\/><br\/><strong>\uff0dWhere are LEDs used?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u3000Watanabe: The most common examples are indoor lighting and street lighting. Because LEDs are durable, have a long lifespan, and consume less electricity, more and more people are switching from traditional lighting to LEDs. In addition, it is used as backlighting in computers.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Incidentally, even though this does not involve LEDs, ultraviolet radiation is used in practice in disinfection devices in refrigerators and in water treatment plants. It is well known that ultraviolet radiation is harmful, but recently it has also been pointed out that blue LEDs (blue light) may be harmful as well.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A research team at Tohoku University is conducting research focused on using blue light to control pests. It therefore goes without saying that it can also be harmful to the human body.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br\/><style type=\"text\/css\">p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 115%; background: transparent }a:link { color: #000080; text-decoration: underline }<\/style><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>Blue Light and Electromagnetic Waves<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014What exactly is an LED?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u3000Watanabe: LED is an abbreviation for light-emitting diode. It is a light-emitting diode made of semiconductors. When an electric current passes through it, it emits light. That is why it is literally called a \u201clight-emitting diode.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\uff0dWhat light colors can be produced with LEDs?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u3000Watanabe: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple (there are also LED lights that emit invisible infrared and ultraviolet light). By combining them, you can also create other colors. The development of blue light (blue LEDs) was carried out by three Japanese researchers, who were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics last year.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first color to be invented was red. An American named Nick Holonyak invented a red LED in the 1960s. After that, yellow and green emerged. Now that blue has been introduced, it has become possible to create white by mixing light.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In that sense, the development of blue light is undoubtedly a major contribution to the industry. However, people have also begun to point out the effects that blue light has on the human body.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014What exactly is blue light?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This may come as a surprise to the reader, but to understand this, one must first understand what electromagnetic waves are.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Elektro&#8221; in &#8220;electromagnetic waves&#8221; stands for electricity. &#8220;Magnet,&#8221; for its part, stands for magnetism.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In other words, electromagnetic waves\u2014to put it simply\u2014are a concept that describes radio waves in which electricity and magnetism create an electromagnetic field. &#8220;Electromagnetic waves&#8221; can also be considered &#8220;radio waves.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are different types of electromagnetic waves. They are classified in considerable detail, ranging from gamma radiation from nuclear power plants to X-rays used in healthcare, and on to microwaves used for cell phone communication. The criterion for this classification is the frequency of the radio waves (number of cycles). Depending on the number of cycles per second, they are classified as shown in the figure below and are expressed in hertz (cycles per second).<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/electromagnetic-spectrum.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/electromagnetic-spectrum.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/valfrids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/electromagnetic-spectrum-711x400.jpg 711w, https:\/\/valfrids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/electromagnetic-spectrum-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/valfrids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/electromagnetic-spectrum-600x338.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, the frequency of the electricity supplied by power companies is 50 hertz. That means 50 cycles per second. Microwave ovens operate at a frequency of 2.45 gigahertz (approximately 2.4 billion cycles per second).<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The higher the frequency, the faster the oscillations, which means that the wavelength becomes shorter. Electromagnetic waves can also be classified based on their wavelength.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of these categories of electromagnetic waves is what is known as visible light (380\u2013780 nm). As the name suggests, this is the spectrum of electromagnetic waves that we can see as light. Blue light, which is the subject of this article, is classified as visible light. Blue light is also a form of electromagnetic radiation.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>Insects died from blue light<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014What effects of blue light on the human body should we be concerned about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u3000Watanabe: There are several aspects that are considered problematic. In December of last year, a research team led by Associate Professor Masatoshi Hori of the Department of Agricultural Sciences at Tohoku University published a study in the British journal *Scientific Reports*. It was discovered that insects died when exposed to blue light of a specific wavelength.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until now, it was known that ultraviolet light, which has a shorter wavelength (higher energy) than blue light, has a bactericidal effect, but it has now been discovered that blue light, which has a longer wavelength (lower energy), kills not only bacteria but also insects. This is a discovery that turns previously accepted truths on their head and is truly surprising.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A research team at Tohoku University\u2019s Graduate School of Science exposed banana fly pupae to LED light with peak wavelengths ranging from 378 to 702 nm\u2014from violet to red\u2014to investigate the proportion that died without hatching. The results showed that blue light with wavelengths of 440 nm and 467 nm had the highest mortality rate. The fruit fly eggs, larvae, and adults were then exposed to blue light with a wavelength of 467 nm, and in all cases, the \u201cirradiation\u201d caused them to die.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An experiment was then conducted in which blue light was directed at mosquito pupae to investigate its insecticidal effect. The results showed that only blue light with a wavelength of 417 nm exhibited a high insecticidal effect.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Based on these results, Tohoku University draws the following conclusion in its press release:<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><p>Blue light has an insecticidal effect on various insect species. Furthermore, this effect can be achieved at all stages of development: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. It should be noted, however, that the effective wavelength for blue light varies depending on the insect species. It has also been shown that there are animal species, unlike, for example, the fruit fly, for which blue light is more lethal than ultraviolet light, meaning that the previous assumption\u2014that the shorter the wavelength, the greater the lethal effect of light on animals\u2014does not apply to all species.<br\/><br\/>According to research findings from Tohoku University, blue light of a certain wavelength can damage cells. Since insects\u2014which, unlike bacteria, are a fairly advanced form of life\u2014die, we must closely monitor the effects this may have on the human body.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3 wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: 140%;\"><strong>The reason the retina is damaged<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\uff0dWhat other effects on the human body are problematic?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u3000Watanabe: There are also concerns about negative effects on the eyes. In June of last year, a research team at Gifu University of Pharmaceutical Sciences published its research findings in the same British scientific journal, *Scientific Reports*. They published experimental results suggesting that blue light may be one of the causes of eye strain, acute damage to the retina, age-related macular degeneration, and pigment changes.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the experiment, mouse retinal cells were used as test subjects; they were exposed to blue, white, and green light from LED lamps, after which the levels of reactive oxygen species were measured for each light. An increase in the amount of reactive oxygen species causes damage to the cells (= oxidative stress).<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The results of the experiment showed that there was no change at all upon exposure to green light, but that the amount of reactive oxygen species increased upon exposure to blue and white light. Since white LEDs are essentially based on blue LEDs, it is, of course, not surprising that the amount of reactive oxygen species increases even when exposed to white LED light.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by the cornea and the lens, but blue light reaches the retina. Since light is electromagnetic energy, it does not disappear on its own. It hurts when something hits you. It is transformed into some other form of action. In this case, it is the formation of active oxygen compounds. This, in turn, leads to damage to the retina.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Isn&#8217;t it only natural that people who work in places where white LED lights are used for lighting complain that &#8220;their eyes get tired&#8221;?<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A research team led by Professor Hideaki Hara at the Laboratory of Pharmacological Analysis at Gifu University of Pharmaceutical Sciences has elucidated the mechanism by which blue light damages the eyes. According to a press release, \u201cthe amount of active oxygen species, which cause cell damage, was highest with blue LEDs, followed by white LEDs, while it did not increase with green LEDs.\u201d The following is stated as the cause of the damage:<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is believed that the cellular damage was caused by the mitochondria\u2014the cells\u2019 energy-producing organelles \u2014 were damaged as a result of the increased amount of active oxygen species when the cells were exposed to LED light containing blue light, which in turn led to damage to the endoplasmic reticulum\u2014the site of protein synthesis.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><p><br\/><strong><em>Valfrids would like to highlight the benefits of our aronia juice here. For those who spend a lot of time working in front of a screen or in LED-lit environments. Aronia&#8217;s eye-protective effects are well documented. The polyphenols in aronia help reduce oxidative stress inside the eye.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4 wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: 140%;\"><strong>Why LED Lights Can Cause Sleep Disturbances<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014Are there also theories that LED lights can cause sleep disturbances?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u3000Watanabe: The retina contains what are known as ganglion cells. About 15 years ago, a new type of these cells was discovered. They are called ganglion photoreceptors, and the signals received here are transmitted to the brain&#8217;s suprachiasmatic nucleus, which acts as the body&#8217;s internal clock.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The body interprets it as daytime when blue light from sunlight enters through the eyes, but when night falls, the blue light decreases and the body prepares for sleep. If the eyes are exposed to large amounts of blue light\u2014from computers, for example\u2014at night, the body\u2019s internal clock confuses night and day, leading to difficulty sleeping.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Constant exposure to blue light disrupts the circadian rhythm. It&#8217;s best to avoid using computers and smartphones, at least at night. It&#8217;s a good idea to use a reddish light at night. Today&#8217;s white LED lights are not suitable for reading, especially in the evening.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A prominent theory is that ganglion photoreceptors are cells used to distinguish between day and night. It has also been determined that these may be cells that send signals to regulate the size of the pupils.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><p><br\/><em><strong>Valfrid&#8217;s comment: Have you ever found it hard to focus in certain supermarkets? We have, and we think it might be due to the LED lighting. Quite simply, because of the flicker, the eye can&#8217;t tell whether it&#8217;s light or dark. We don&#8217;t notice it ourselves (the flickering), but we get a vague sense that it&#8217;s hard to focus, since the eye is essentially experiencing microscopic spasms.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5 wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: 140%;\"><strong>LED lights caused the spines of tropical fish to become curved<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2013 What about the risk of cancer?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u3000Watanabe: Ultraviolet radiation is carcinogenic (toxic). When it comes to blue light, I believe that, because it generates reactive oxygen species, it affects the immune system and can lead to cancer. That is why I believe it is problematic to be constantly exposed to excessive amounts of blue light.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It has become increasingly clear that women who work night shifts are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. At night, sensitivity to blue light increases, which means that its effect on the body is even greater.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The author replaced the lighting in the guppy (tropical fish) aquarium at home, switching from standard fluorescent tubes to LED lights. As a result, some guppies developed tumors or had curved spines. The aquatic plants turned black. When the author described this phenomenon on his own website on September 1, 2014, the post received nearly 200,000 views.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*The article about malformed tropical fish that the author published on his website \u201cMEDIA KOKUSYO\u201d<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014Was it the blue light from the LED lamps that caused the abnormalities in the guppies?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><p>\u3000Watanabe: Since it happened after they were exposed to white light (from built-in blue LEDs), we can probably assume that\u2019s the cause. The comments section for the article included various posts, such as one suggesting that the aquarium might have been dirty, but a curved spine is certainly not normal.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6 wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: 140%;\"><strong>Are there any safe LED lights?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2013 Does the level of risk vary depending on the quality of the LED lighting?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u3000Watanabe: High-quality LED bulbs produce white light by mixing the three colors. If a combination of light wavelengths can be used to create light that is as close as possible to natural light, the risk is reduced.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the manufacturing cost would then be very high. Inexpensive LED bulbs use blue as their base color and cover it with a fluorescent material to produce a white glow. As a result, the manufacturing cost is lower, but the risk increases. The ones used for street lighting are probably the cheapest type. If you absolutely must use LED bulbs, you should avoid the cheap ones. But even the expensive models aren&#8217;t necessarily completely safe at this point.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sunlight contains all wavelengths, from red to blue. This is natural light.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">LEDs, on the other hand, use only a specific wavelength. When it comes to combinations of wavelengths, the laser is the most dangerous. It emits only a specific wavelength and, moreover, radiates straight ahead. When it hits the retina, a focal point is formed on the retina. There is therefore a risk that it could burn the retina. You must not look directly into a laser source. Many people have gone blind because of this.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><p>Since humans are accustomed to natural light, it\u2019s probably quite safe, as long as you\u2019re not exposed to extreme amounts of ultraviolet radiation or blue light.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7 wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: 140%;\"><strong>Industry groups claim it&#8217;s safe, but\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014The industry organizations have, after all, issued security statements.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u3000Watanabe: I don&#8217;t think they&#8217;re taking into account the research findings from Gifu University of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Tohoku University. First of all, these research findings were only published in the last six months, and as for the new discovery that blue light can cause insects to die \u2014which, after all, was first presented in December of last year\u2014it goes without saying that the safety statements do not take these research findings into account.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, there is an organization called the Lighting Association, which states that there should be no problems with the normal use of LEDs.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><p>However, it has now become clear that LEDs, which until now have been considered \u201csafe,\u201d are not such a simple matter. What makes the research findings from Tohoku University significant is that, while it was previously believed that only ultraviolet light had a bactericidal effect, insects were found to die when exposed to blue light with wavelengths of 417 nm or 467 nm.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8 wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-link-color\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: 140%;\"><strong>How to Protect Your Eyes While Using a Computer<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014 Computer monitors also emit blue light\u2014is there anything you can do about that?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u3000Watanabe: I&#8217;ve adjusted my computer monitor so that it&#8217;s a little darker (while the surroundings are bright). In addition, you can adjust the three primary colors, so I&#8217;ve reduced the amount of blue. That makes the whole screen look a little yellowish, but it&#8217;s safer that way. I don&#8217;t know, though, how much of an effect it actually has\u2026<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2014Are red and yellow-green LED lights safe?<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u3000Watanabe: So far, no injuries appear to have been reported. Of course, it\u2019s a different story if you stare directly at the LED lights for a long time, but in everyday life, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a problem. Even sunlight can burn your eyes if you stare at it constantly.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\uff0dHow should one approach new products?<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u3000Watanabe: Madame Curie, who was awarded the Nobel Prize twice, handled radioactive substances such as radium and polonium directly with her hands. That was because, at first, people were unaware of the dangers. As a result, she developed health problems. No one knows what will happen to the young children who are using cell phones and smartphones today once they grow up.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The electromagnetic waves (radiation) emitted by smartphones and the antennas on nearby cell towers are invisible. They have neither smell nor taste. That is why many people do not realize the danger. There is still a lot we don&#8217;t know. I think you should always keep the risks in mind.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><p><em>End of the interview with Ken Watanabe.<\/em><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you have to use LED lighting, what should you do?<\/h2>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Choose LEDs that flicker as little as possible. There are LED lights that feature \u201canti-flicker technology.\u201d We don&#8217;t know if they really don&#8217;t flicker or if they just flicker less.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure to let natural light into the space where you spend time as well.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minimize screen time, cell phone use, and LED lighting in the evening.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don&#8217;t buy the cheapest LED bulbs\u2014the cheaper they are, the worse the light spectrum.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose LEDs with a warmer glow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take care of your eye health\u2014drink Valfrids\u2019 polyphenol-rich aronia juice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br\/>Valfrids chooses old-fashioned, reliable incandescent bulbs with their natural light spectrum<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Valfrids, we sell good, old-fashioned light bulbs. The technology is over 100 years old. They emit a full spectrum of light. They create a cozy atmosphere with warm lighting. They don&#8217;t flicker.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Real incandescent light bulbs aren&#8217;t easy to find anymore. They are not available in grocery stores or in specialty lighting stores. They have become something to truly appreciate for their warm glow and natural color spectrum. We sell them at Valfrids. As long as they&#8217;re available.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:25px\">Why old, real light bulbs?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Old incandescent light bulbs work by having electricity flow through a thin wire, causing it to glow and emit light. Even though the mains current fluctuates at 50 Hz, incandescent light bulbs do not flicker because they maintain their glow during the brief intervals when the mains current changes direction 50 times per second.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only downside to incandescent light bulbs is that they aren&#8217;t very energy-efficient\u2014after all, they give off a lot of heat. But what does it matter here in Northern Europe? We use electricity and other forms of energy to heat our homes anyway. An incandescent light bulb gives off some heat, so your heating element has to work less = no increase in energy consumption, really. But the heat they give off isn&#8217;t that significant in a typical home. How much heat does a 40W light bulb generate? Not much, all things considered. A common household appliance often has a power rating of 1,000 W or more.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also think that you can get by with much fewer watts in your light bulbs than you might think. We ourselves often use as little as 7W or 11W for \u201cmood lighting.\u201d In the bathroom, for example, where you need more light\u2014that&#8217;s where we use 40 or 60 watts.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Valfrids, we only use real light bulbs at home. It&#8217;s cozier, it&#8217;s healthier, it&#8217;s definitely better for your health, and it&#8217;s also more environmentally friendly.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check out our selection of incandescent light bulbs:<br\/><a href=\"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/en\/kategori\/for-your-home\/real-light-bulbs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/valfrids.com\/kategori\/for-ditt-hem\/glodlampor\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are there any risks associated with LED lights in our daily lives? We explain what to keep in mind, the latest research findings, and why we prefer good old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7671,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7670"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7948,"href":"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7670\/revisions\/7948"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valfrids.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}