The Health and Environment plan unveiled on May 7 by the government aims to raise awareness ofare French and to implement concrete actions to reduce thes environmental exposures affecting health. Because according to the WHO, 23% of deaths and 25% of chronic pathologies worldwide can be attributed to environmental and behavioral factors.
In addition to the desire to better label household products via the launch of a Toxicscore or to legislate on the presence of nanoparticles in everyday consumer products, the Ministry of the Transition eecological ad Iban on blue lights in children’s toys from 2022.
As a reminder, blue light is emitted mostly by public lighting and domesticin the light-emitting diodes (LEDs)but also in children’s toys and screens.
Until the 1990s, LEDs only existed in red, yellow or green and were mainly used as indicator lights in electronic equipment such as remote controls or alarm clocks. With the creation of the first blue LED, it became possible, by covering it with a layer of yellow phosphor, to create a white light intense enough to be used in lighting.
LEDs are used everywhere, in schools, gyms, streets or shopping malls. And you probably have some at home. It is easy to identify: to unlike conventional lamps whose lighting is tinted yellow, the diodes produce a very white light.
Blue light: effects on sleep and vision
But the problem is that these diodes emit blue lightWho exposes to effects on the body, in particular by disrupting the production of melatonin, this hormonewhich promotes sleep. Consequence: sleep disturbances may occur. Furthermore, “the light blue has effects potentially toxic on sight, especially in children under 10 years oldwhose lens is not sufficiently mature and therefore insufficient to play its role as a filter“, specifies the Ministry of the Transition eecological.
In an expert report unveiled in May 2019, ANSES confirmed theblue light toxicity on the retinanotably long-term on the risk of developing AMDas well as its effect on sleep rhythms, even for low exposure, in the evening or at night. She recommended to limit the exposure of populations and in particular of children to light rich in blue before bedtime and during the night. But also, of restrict the placing on the market of LED devices too rich in blue. And again 😀and update blue light exposure limit values (ELV)in particular in order to take into account the specificity of children, whose lens of the eye filters the blue with much less efficiency than adults and elderly people.
Adults are also at risk
While waiting for 2022 and because children mainly spend time on their parents’ tablets (which they will not be banned), be vigilant, especially with the youngest. If banning screens is impossible, it is essential to impose a limited exposure time and of course to have their eyesight monitored regularly.
As for adults who spend a lot of time (also) on screens, a tip to protect yourself from blue light: take visual breaks! How ? Simply by looking away (for 5 minutes every hour) and blinking as often as possible. This allows the eyes to rest.
Sources:
- PNSE4, 4th national environmental health plan, May 7, 2021
- LED and blue light, Anses, September 2020
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