Study Finds Certain LED Products Contain Toxic Metals

Christmas strand, traffic light and automobile LED lights marketed as safe, environmentally preferable alternatives to traditional light sources may reduce air emissions at power plants by using less energy, but nonetheless contain lead, arsenic and a dozen other potentially hazardous substances, according to newly published research.

Scientists at UC Irvine and UC Davis crunched, leached and measured the tiny, multicolored lamps sold in Christmas strands; red, yellow and green traffic lights; and automobile headlights and brake lights. They discovered that low-intensity red lights contained up to eight times the amount of lead allowed under California law, but in general, high-intensity, brighter lamps had more contaminants than lower ones. White sources had the least lead, but contained high amounts of nickel.

Lead, arsenic and many additional metals discovered in the lamps or their related parts have been linked in hundreds of studies to different cancers, neurological damage, kidney disease, hypertension, skin rashes and other illnesses. The copper used in some LEDs also poses an ecological threat to fish, rivers and lakes.

LightNOW’s take: The study did not involve LED replacement lamps and fixtures but there are obvious implications. What’s particularly frustrating is that the researchers indicated the chemical concentrations in the products were easily avoidable, apparently without compromising performance. Government should test replacement technology before promoting it through regulation.

Craig DiLouie

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