ISR300-PSL Accurately Evaluates Blue Light Hazard
ANSES (The French National Agency for Food Safety, Environment and Labor) has published an update (French document) of its 2010 expertise on the health effects of LEDs, in light of new scientific knowledge available. The report confirms the toxicity of blue light on the retina and highlights the disturbance of biological rhythms and sleep.
What is blue light hazard?
“Blue light retinal injury” is the common name for type II photochemically induced photoretinopathy (retina burn) caused by the absorption of light by the eye’s retinal pigmented epithelial cells. Retinal injury includes a blind spot and a loss of vision, although recovery may be possible in mild cases.
Whilst the spectral sensitivity of this hazard can range from 300 nm to 700 nm, the peak sensitivity is between 435–440 nm, hence the “blue” label.
Blue light hazard and LED products
Acute blue light retinal injury is extremely rare, as natural aversion and greater awareness of the dangers of bright lights mean excessive staring at lamps is not likely (more commonly, injury is encountered in the accidental viewing of the sun or welding arcs). However, the concerns for long-term, low-level exposure (as encountered, for example, in the use of mobile devices) had been an area requiring further research.
The latest data, as reported by ANSES (French document), now confirms that blue light retinal injury can be caused by both short-term acute exposure as well as long-term chronic exposure.
ANSES, therefore, recommends changing the regulatory framework applicable to all LED systems, in particular to:
- Restrict the availability of LED objects to the general public to those of photobiological risk group 0 or 1;
- Limit the luminous intensity of the headlights of motor vehicles, while guaranteeing road safety;
- Minimize the temporal modulation level of light emitted by all light sources (lights, screens, LED objects).
How to accurately test LED safety
To help certification companies, lamp manufacturers and luminaire manufacturers to comply with existing policies from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENLEC), Bentham has developed the ISR300-PSL Luminaire Blue Light Hazard Spectroradiometer, to accurately evaluate the blue light hazard across all classes of lighting products.
The ISR300-PSL provides a measurement capability spanning the 300–780 nm spectral range, required for testing to international standards. This device offers the luminaire manufacturer the most reliable and accurate direct assessment of blue light hazard so that compliant products can be developed and provided with accurate safety information.
With the ANSES report denoting changes to future standards, the ISR300-PSL will become all the more invaluable for photobiological safety testing and accreditation.
To request more information or a quotation for this or other Bentham products, contact IL Photonics.