LED streetlights raise health concerns

As the United States and the United Kingdom move to reduce energy consumption by replacing old street lamps with LED lights, doctors warn that the new lighting could be having detrimental effect on our sleep and vision. The American Medical Association notes that LEDs emit large amounts of blue light, which can disrupt sleep patterns by reducing melatonin and interfering with the circadian rhythm of the human body. The AMA also says that white LED lamps can have 5 times the impact on our sleep patterns as regular street lamps. In addition, LED lamps cause glare, and the AMA recommends that the blue wavelengths be reduced in LED street lamps to minimize the glare. The AMA is offering guidance to local U.S. governments who are making the switch to the LED street lighting to try and minimize the impact on human health.*