The European Commission and its Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) today published the final Opinion on the potential risks to human health of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

The Committee has conducted a review of the published research concluding, amongst other things, that:

• There is no evidence of direct adverse health effects from LEDs in normal use (lighting and displays) by the healthy general population.
• Children have a higher sensitivity to blue light. Although emissions may not be harmful, blue LEDs (between 400 nm and 500 nm), including those in toys, may be very dazzling and may induce photochemical retinopathy, which is a concern especially for children below three years of age.
• Older people may experience discomfort from exposure to light such as blue LED displays.
• There is a low level of evidence that exposure to light in the late evening, including that from LED lighting and/or screens may have an impact on the circadian rhythm. However, it is not yet clear if this disturbance of the circadian system leads to adverse health effects.

Since the use of LED technology is still evolving, the Committee believes that it is important to closely monitor the risk of adverse health effects from long-term LED use to the general population.

More information:

• On the work of the Commission's independent scientific committees