LEDs in the dock

Well, they are being touted as safe, green and efficient lighting and the alternative to incandescents and fluorescents. But now, the LEDs also stand exposed, according to latest research.

The light-emitting diodes marketed as safe, environmentally preferable alternatives to traditional lightbulbs actually contain lead, arsenic and a dozen other potentially hazardous substances.

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

Lead, arsenic and many additional metals discovered in the bulbs 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 question that rises is if the LEDs were properly tested for potential environmental health impacts before being marketed as the preferred alternative to inefficient incandescent bulbs. Often a new product is marketed for its advantages vis a vis other products in the market, but perhaps it is time to start independent testings, as this case shows.

Will be interesting to hear the other side of the story, though.