1. LED’s: Are they helpful or hazardous? LED bulbs may be more toxic than initially thought Team Ytterbium: Anna Weber, Matie Winer, Ben Zeiger

2. Background LED stands for light-emitting diode. 1 LEDs are solid state lighting because light is created for a solid semiconductor material. 1 ➢ Different from incandescent and fluorescent lights. 1 Different semiconductors are used to create different color LEDs. 1 1. "What Is an LED?" - LEDs. LEDs Magazine (http://www.bluebird- electric.net/blueplanet_ecostar/eco_kar_lighting_tail_ head_indicators_side_lights_leds_l_e_d.htm) (http://www.clker.com/clipart-6520.html)

3. Controversy Toxicity of LEDs Radiation 1 ➢ Is optical radiation a potential threat? 1 Levels of dangerous substances present Other concerns (http://www.planetchristmas.com/leds-2/) (http://www.clker.com/clipart-6520.html) 1. Necz, Péter P, and József Bakos. "Photobiological Safety of the Recently Introduced Energy Efficient Household Lamps."

4. Reality: Toxicity Almost 70 times more ecotoxicity 1 Two toxicity characterization methods 1 : ➢ the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s TCLP ➢ the California Department of Toxic Substances Control’s TTLC method LEDs are categorized as hazardous, due to excessive levels of lead (Pb) leachability, copper, lead, and zinc. 1 (http://www.clker.com/clipart-6520.html) 1. Lim, SR, D Kang, OA Ogunseitan, and JM Schoenung. "Potential Environmental Impacts from the Metals in Incandescent, Compact Fluorescent Lamp (cfl), and Light-Emitting Diode (led) Bulbs."

5. Reality: Radiation Study conducted: tested for ultraviolet (UV) and blue light (BL) emissions from halogen bulbs, CFLs and LED lamps. 1 “The exposures to UV and BL were below the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) exposure limits” 1 Conclusion: that these lamps do not exceed the current exposure limit values. 1 ➢ those who are more sensitive have a higher risk of detrimental skin ➢ and eye reaction. 1 (http://www.clker.com/clipart-6520.html) 1. Necz, Péter P, and József Bakos. "Photobiological Safety of the Recently Introduced Energy Efficient Household Lamps."

6. Reality: Dangerous Substances 1. Frondel, M., & Lohmann, S. (2011). The European Commission's light bulb decree: Another costly regulation? 2. Lim, SR, D Kang, OA Ogunseitan, and JM Schoenung. "Potential Environmental Impacts from the Metals in Incandescent, Compact Fluorescent Lamp (cfl), and Light-Emitting Diode (led) Bulbs." LEDs forbidden from standard landfills 1 While LED’s Are not Recognized as Hazardous Waste by The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), The stricter Standards held by California would categorize them as such. 2 No manufacturer support 1 (http://www.clker.com/clipart-6520.html)

7. Other concerns Resource depletion: 2-3 times as much 1 ➢ (based on bulb life equivalents) High cost - long payoff 2 Blue light wavelengths 3 ➢ Suppress REM sleep Overheating 4 ➢ decreases the efficiency of the Led Bulbs (http://www.clker.com/clipart-6520.html) 1. Lim, SR, D Kang, OA Ogunseitan, and JM Schoenung. "Potential Environmental Impacts from the Metals in Incandescent, Compact Fluorescent Lamp (cfl), and Light-Emitting Diode (led) Bulbs." 2. Frondel, M., & Lohmann, S. “The European Commission's light bulb decree: Another costly regulation?” 3. Blue light has a dark side - Harvard Health 4. Krejcar, O.,Frischer, R.,..”Smart intelligent control of current source for high power LED diodes” (http://www.fotosearch.com/CSP710 /k7104724/)

8. Future of LED Technology Make it easier to recycle the dangerous metals in LED lights Find an alternative to the metals used in LEDs Create LEDs that have a small number of emissions of UV radiation and blue light Create LEDs that give off less heat so they become more efficient (http://www.clker.com/clipart-6520.html) (http://www.merchantcircle.com/the-led- thing1-clackamas-or/picture/view/2574840)

9. Works Cited Lim, SR, D Kang, OA Ogunseitan, and JM Schoenung. "Potential Environmental Impacts from the Metals in Incandescent, Compact Fluorescent Lamp (cfl), and Light-Emitting Diode (led) Bulbs." Environmental Science & Technology. 47.2 (2013): 1040-7. Print. Necz, Péter P, and József Bakos. "Photobiological Safety of the Recently Introduced Energy Efficient Household Lamps." International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health. 27.6 (2014): 1036-1042. Print. Scheer, Roddy, and Doug Moss. "The Dark Side of LED Lightbulbs." Scientific American Global RSS. N.p., 15 Sept. 2012. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. "What Is an LED?" - LEDs. LEDs Magazine, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2015. F. Behar-Cohen, C. Martinsons, F. Viénot, G. Zissis, A. Barlier-Salsi, J.P. Cesarini, O. Enouf, M. Garcia, S. Picaud, D. Attia, Light-emitting diodes (LED) for domestic lighting: Any risks for the eye?, Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, Volume 30, Issue 4, July 2011, Pages 239-257, ISSN 1350-9462, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2011.04.002. Frondel, M., & Lohmann, S. “The European Commission's light bulb decree: Another costly regulation?” Energy Policy, 3177-3181. 2011. Web. 29 Sept. 2015 Blue light has a dark side - Harvard Health. (2012, May 1). Retrieved October 25, 2015. Krejcar, O.,Frischer, R.,. (2013). Smart intelligent control of current source for high power LED diodes. Microelectronics Journal, 44(4), 307-314.