Led Lights | The Dark Reason They Make You Feel Sick

The Origin of LED Lights – Manufacture & Components

What Are LED Lights

LED lights are energy-efficient bulbs. They use light-emitting diodes to produce light. Unlike traditional bulbs, they last longer and consume less power. They also generate less heat, making them safer. You’ll find LED lights in homes, offices, and even cars. LED is an acronym for Light Emitting Diode

What Is the Origin Of LED Lights

LED lights trace back to the early 1900s. In 1907, British scientist H.J. Round first observed electroluminescence in a diode. Later, in 1962, Nick Holonyak Jr., an American engineer, created the first visible-spectrum LED. Initially, LEDs were only used in indicator lights. Over time, they evolved into the efficient lighting we use today.

When Did LED Lights Become A Household Item

LED lights became a household item in the early 2000s. As technology improved, they became more affordable and versatile. By 2010, their energy efficiency and long lifespan made them popular for home use, replacing traditional incandescent bulbs in many households.

How Are LED Lights Manufactured?

LED lights are manufactured through a precise process. First, semiconductor materials like gallium arsenide are layered onto a substrate. These materials are then etched to form the LED chip. Next, the chip is encased in a plastic or ceramic shell, which helps focus the light. Wires connect the chip to a power source, and finally, the entire assembly is tested for quality.

What Is Gallium Arsenide

Gallium arsenide (GaAs) is a compound made from gallium and arsenic. It’s a semiconductor material used in electronics. GaAs has high electron mobility, making it faster than silicon in certain applications. It’s often used in LEDs, solar cells, and high-frequency devices like smartphones.

Is Gallium Arsenide Safe

Gallium arsenide has some safety concerns. While it’s stable in solid form, it can be toxic if ingested or inhaled as dust. Arsenic in it is the primary risk. However, in everyday products like LEDs, it’s safely contained and poses no direct harm. Proper handling during manufacturing is essential to prevent exposure.

What happens if an LED bulb breaks and arsenic from gallium arsenide is released

If an LED bulb containing gallium arsenide breaks, the risk is minimal. The amount of arsenic is very small and usually remains contained within the solid material. However, avoid touching or inhaling any dust. Clean up carefully using gloves, and dispose of the debris properly. Ventilate the area to be extra cautious.

Are There Known Cases Where the Arsenic in Gallium Arsenide Has Been Injurious

No widespread cases report injuries from arsenic in gallium arsenide in consumer products like LED bulbs. Most risks arise during manufacturing, where workers might be exposed to dust or fumes if safety measures fail. For everyday use, the amount of arsenic is minimal and securely contained, posing little to no risk.

The Cons of LED Lights – Health & Well-Being

So Why Do Led Lights Make Me Feel Sick, Dizzy, Nauseous, Headachy, Weird

Your finally home after a long-day at work to relax. You hit the lights and suddenly your just not feeling right.   Those flashy new modern LED lights you just installed could be the cause.  Feeling sick from LED lights could be due to several factors:

-1- Blue Light Exposure

LEDs emit significant blue light, which can cause eye strain and disrupt your circadian rhythm. Blue light affects melatonin production, a hormone that regulates sleep. Exposure to blue light, especially before bedtime, can suppress melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep and disrupting your sleep cycle. This disruption can lead to sleep issues, contributing to feelings of dizziness or nausea.

-2- Flickering

Some LEDs flicker at a frequency that’s not always noticeable. This flickering can cause headaches or eye discomfort for sensitive individuals, as it affects the visual system even if you don’t consciously see it. The flicker can create visual stress by causing rapid, repetitive changes in light intensity. This constant adjustment can strain the eyes and brain, leading to symptoms like headaches, dizziness, or eye discomfort.

-3- Brightness

LEDs give off very bright light compared to traditional incandescent or fluorescent lights. They produce intense light with high luminosity, which can be overwhelming, especially in direct or unadjusted settings. This excess brightness can cause headaches, visual discomfort and strain your eyes. In contrast, traditional lighting typically offers a softer and more diffuse light, which is often easier on the eyes and less likely to cause headaches or general discomfort.

-4- Quality of Light

Poor-quality LEDs may have inconsistent color temperatures, meaning the light can appear too cool or too warm in different areas. This inconsistency can cause visual discomfort. Additionally, LEDs can produce glare, where the light is too intense or direct, creating harsh reflections. Both inconsistent color temperatures and glare can strain your eyes and make the lighting uncomfortable, leading to symptoms like nausea or headaches.

The Pros of LED Lights – Cost & Efficiency

Nature of Light – Traditional Incandescent Lights, Fluorescent Lights & LED Lights

Do you notice every time you enter a room, the nature of light differs noticeably and that sometimes your mood even shifts. That’s because each type of light emits a different type of light: –

-1- Incandescent/Filament Bulbs

These produce a warm, soft light. The light is continuous and has a broad spectrum, giving a natural color quality. However, they emit a lot of heat and are less energy-efficient.

-2- Fluorescent Bulbs

These provide a cooler, more even light. They have a broader spectrum than LEDs but can sometimes produce a harsh or flickering effect. The light quality can vary based on the phosphor coating used.

-3- LEDs

LEDs offer a wide range of color temperatures, from warm to cool light. They provide focused, directional light with high efficiency and minimal heat. The color quality is adjustable based on the design and phosphor used in the LED.

Lighting Difference – Traditional Incandescent Lights, Fluorescent Lights & LED Lights

While all lights do a great job of brightening up a space, they’re not the same.  Interestingly LEDs differ from the traditional incandescent lights (filament bulb) and fluorescent lights in several ways:

-1- Efficiency

LEDs are more energy-efficient, converting most energy into light rather than heat. Incandescents waste much energy as heat, while fluorescents are more efficient but still less so than LEDs.

-2- Lifespan

LEDs last much longer, often 25,000 to 50,000 hours. Incandescents typically last around 1,000 hours, and fluorescents last about 7,000 to 15,000 hours.

-3- Light Quality

LEDs provide numerous color temperatures and offer different light quality. Incandescents provide a warm, soft light, while fluorescents can have a harsher, colder light.

-4- Durability

LEDs are solid-state and more durable, while incandescents have fragile filaments and fluorescents contain fragile glass tubes and toxic mercury.

What Are the Advantages of LEDs

LED lights have become a must-have, lighting up both homes and industries with modern aesthetic. That’s because they come with a host of advantages:

1. Energy Efficiency – They use less power, reducing electricity bills.
2. Long Lifespan – LEDs last much longer than traditional bulbs, reducing replacement costs.
3. Low Heat Emission – They produce minimal heat, making them safer and more efficient.
4. Durability – LEDs are robust and resistant to breakage.
5. Instant Light – They reach full brightness immediately, with no warm-up time.
6. Environmental Impact – LEDs contain no mercury and are eco-friendly.

What Are the Disadvantages of LEDs

However, while LED lights add a modern flair to homes with their sleek designs, they come with quite a few drawbacks: –

1. Initial Cost – They are more expensive to buy upfront compared to traditional bulbs.
2. Color Temperature – Some LEDs may produce harsh or cold light that can be uncomfortable.
3. Dimming Issues – Not all LEDs work well with dimmer switches or may flicker when dimmed.
4. Light Quality – Lower-quality LEDs might have inconsistent light or color rendering.
5. Sensitivity to Temperature – Extreme temperatures can affect their performance and lifespan.

The Safety of LED Lights – Safer Alternatives

Is the Incandescent Light (filament bulb) still the Safest Alternative to LEDs?

Overall, while incandescent lights are safer in terms of chemical content, they are not as energy-efficient or long-lasting as LEDs or other modern alternatives. However, incandescent lights are not necessarily the safest alternative to LEDs. While they don’t contain mercury and are not as harsh on the eyes compared to LEDs, they have some issues:

1. Heat Emission – Incandescent bulbs produce a lot of heat, which can be a fire hazard.
2. Energy Inefficiency – They consume more power and have a shorter lifespan, leading to higher energy bills and more frequent replacements.
3. Lower Efficiency – They’re not as efficient compared to LEDs and CFLs, making them less eco-friendly.

What makes incandescent lights (filament bulb) safer in terms of chemical content

Well, if you’re still on the fence and safety is a major consideration over cost then the filament bulb is the way to go. Incandescent lights are safer in terms of chemical content because they do not contain hazardous materials like mercury. Unlike fluorescent bulbs, which have a small amount of mercury, incandescent bulbs use a simple tungsten filament and an inert gas to produce light. This makes them less risky if broken or disposed of, as they don’t pose the same environmental and health hazards.

LED-Lights | Ongoing & Published Safety Research

If you’re concerned about the impact of LED lights on health, you’re not alone. While LED lights are lauded for energy-efficiency and environmentally friendliness, ongoing research highlights some safety concerns. For instance, the blue light emitted by LEDs can disrupt our circadian rhythms, leading to sleep disorders and other health issues like depression and metabolic problems. Additionally, light pollution from LED usage might exacerbate these risks. Researchers are delving into how LED lighting affects humans, especially when compared to traditional lighting, to develop safer guidelines for their use. Below are some excerpts of published and ongoing research.

$1.6M Study Will Assess Health Impacts of LED vs. Fluorescent Light – The Department of Energy (DOE). A newly funded DOE project will look at how LED lighting compares with standard fluorescent light for the health of people on regular daytime work schedules. “Compelling research in mice has shown that the kind of day-time lighting – fluorescent or tunable LED light – can have a significant impact on health,” says lead researchers John Hanifin, PhD, assistant professor of Neurology at Thomas Jefferson University and the Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience. “We want to test whether that’s the case in people too, and whether tunable LED can improve measures of sleep, metabolism, and overall health.”

Inside Lighting

Light Pollution Affects Human Health – Circadian rhythm and melatonin – Like most life on Earth, humans adhere to a circadian rhythm — our biological clock — a sleep-wake pattern that is governed by the natural day/night cycle. This cycle is largely influenced by photoreceptors in the eye that are more sensitive to blue wavelengths of light. It’s important for every human to experience outdoor lighting during the day and minimize the amount of light entering their eyes at night to maintain a good circadian cycle. Artificial light at night can, unfortunately, disrupt that cycle.

DarkSky International

AMA Adopts Guidance to Reduce Harm from HIgh Intensity Street Lights – High-intensity LED lighting designs emit a large amount of blue light that appears white to the naked eye and create worse nighttime glare than conventional lighting. Discomfort and disability from intense, blue-rich LED lighting can decrease visual acuity and safety, resulting in concerns and creating a road hazard. In addition to its impact on drivers, blue-rich LED streetlights operate at a wavelength that most adversely suppresses melatonin during night. It is estimated that white LED lamps have five times greater impact on circadian sleep rhythms than conventional street lamps. Recent large surveys found that brighter residential nighttime lighting is associated with reduced sleep times, dissatisfaction with sleep quality, excessive sleepiness, impaired daytime functioning and obesity.

American Medical Association