The replacement of our street lights to LED is costing us $3 million big buckeraoos. And we have had complaints about the light intensity. But the city is and has not addressed the harmful effects even though they were brought to their attention. Now the AMA has released its official statement that they may very well be harmful.
AMA Adopts Community Guidance to Reduce the Harmful Human and Environmental Effects of High Intensity Street Lighting
For immediate release:
June 14, 2016
CHICAGO - Strong arguments exist for overhauling the lighting systems on U.S. roadways with light emitting diodes (LED), but conversions to improper LED technology can have adverse consequences. In response, physicians at the Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) today adopted guidance for communities on selecting among LED lighting options to minimize potential harmful human and environmental effects.
Converting conventional street light to energy efficient LED lighting leads to cost and energy savings, and a lower reliance on fossil-based fuels. Approximately 10 percent of existing U.S. street lighting has been converted to solid state LED technology, with efforts underway to accelerate this conversion.
"Despite the energy efficiency benefits, some LED lights are harmful when used as street lighting," AMA Board Member Maya A. Babu, M.D., M.B.A. "The new AMA guidance encourages proper attention to optimal design and engineering features when converting to LED lighting that minimize detrimental health and environmental effects."
High-intensity LED lighting designs emit a large amount of blue light that appears white to the naked eye and create worse nighttime glare than conventional lighting. Discomfort and disability from intense, blue-rich LED lighting can decrease visual acuity and safety, resulting in concerns and creating a road hazard.
In addition to its impact on drivers, blue-rich LED streetlights operate at a wavelength that most adversely suppresses melatonin during night. It is estimated that white LED lamps have five times greater impact on circadian sleep rhythms than conventional street lamps. Recent large surveys found that brighter residential nighttime lighting is associated with reduced sleep times, dissatisfaction with sleep quality, excessive sleepiness, impaired daytime functioning and obesity.
The detrimental effects of high-intensity LED lighting are not limited to humans. Excessive outdoor lighting disrupts many species that need a dark environment. For instance, poorly designed LED lighting disorients some bird, insect, turtle and fish species, and U.S. national parks have adopted optimal lighting designs and practices that minimize the effects of light pollution on the environment.
Recognizing the detrimental effects of poorly-designed, high-intensity LED lighting, the AMA encourages communities to minimize and control blue-rich environmental lighting by using the lowest emission of blue light possible to reduce glare. The AMA recommends an intensity threshold for optimal LED lighting that minimizes blue-rich light. The AMA also recommends all LED lighting should be properly shielded to minimize glare and detrimental human health and environmental effects, and consideration should be given to utilize the ability of LED lighting to be dimmed for off-peak time periods.
The guidance adopted today by grassroots physicians who comprise the AMA's policy-making body strengthens the AMA's policy stand against light pollution and public awareness of the adverse health and environmental effects of pervasive nighttime lighting.
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Media Contact:
AMA Media and Editorial
Pressroom: (312) 239-4991
Email: media@ama-assn.org
7 comments:
Well DUH! The mighty trio just boos Christopher McVoy when ever he brings this up (especially Maxwell Not So Smart with his silver hammer tongue). I am sure he will have some kind of uneducated rebuttal for the AMA now.
I'm not anti LED light, although I kinda think the Siemens contract is likely going to end up costing more than advertised. On the other hand, these lights are super bright. Maybe my eyes are more sensitive but the one near me is blinding when I drive by it. Other neighbors have also complained. I'm for more lighting, but I'm not sure blinding drivers is going to improve our overall safety.
These new lights are terrible. The warm orange glow from the old ones was wonderful. How I miss them.
Lake Worth is so busy trying to "move forward" that it's actually moving backwards. Rubes and suckers.
I am going to say it again, the previous Electric Utility Administration tried to tell the CM this but he knew more than they did. He had a total of 3 years of managing an electric department and they only had a combined total of 82 years so I guess he would know best. Now we get to live with this and they are gone. SMART GUY THAT CM
Interesting, Siemens is now trying to install these lights on private property, in the middle of the block, claiming that the City has an easement where none exists.
Then they want to connect it across the private property, and cut down trees on private property to make way for it. One of my neighbors knocked on my door this weekend to tell me about it, no other notification. She told me to watch out, b/c they tried to do it on her property which would have blocked her driveway with a big concrete pole. When she told the Siemens folks to get lost they simply went across the street. Those folks told them no too and now it looks like they will simply move down the block to my land. Have you heard anything about this? I contacted the City this am and they have not gotten back, but I've looked at my property records and there is no easment. No notification by City or Siemens, I'm sure some people are going to come back from up north to a big freaking concrete pole on their property with super bright LED lights shining in their windows. Then what, I think what they are doing is 100% illegal.
Who did you contact at the city?
Keep calling every day until you get a satisfactory answer.
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