This is our article on Light and Your Health. I’m going to talk today about the healthiest light bulbs for eyes. The health impact of different choices for electric lighting. The most dangerous electric lighting for your health is the fluorescent light bulb. To show the first reason why fluorescent lights are bad for your health.
This is what the static sounds like with the radio by itself. Now listen to the change when I turn on the light bulb [lots of static]. The reason why you’re hearing all that sound is that the fluorescent light bulb produces high levels of radio waves, also known as dirty electricity. Dirty electricity has been shown to influence neurotransmitter levels, and it has other negative effects on your health.
Healthiest light bulbs for eyes:
Mercury gas emissions spectrum:
To show you the second reason why fluorescent lights are a problem, we’re going to take some pictures with a manual spectroscope. Now if you look at the picture that we took of sunlight, you can see a nice full color spectrum, but the picture we took of a fluorescent light you can see is very spiky. The spikiness is because the fluorescent light is produced by sending energy through mercury gas, so what you’re seeing is the mercury gas emissions spectrum.
Not only is this very far from full-spectrum lighting, but the mercury emission spectrum will actually energize any mercury that might be in your body and might cause mercury that is in your dental fillings or in your tattoos to move into your bloodstream. The third reason why fluorescent lights are a problem is that the total amount of light produced and the total amount of blue light is enough to suppress your melatonin and offset your circadian rhythm at night.
To measure the total brightness and the total blueness, we used a simple, cheap light meter, about $15, and a dichroic blue filter on top of the meter to specifically measure the blue light. To minimize the disruption of melatonin, we want to keep our total blue light at under 1 lux, and we want to keep the total light of all colors at under 50 lux because it turns out that bright light of other colors also disrupts the circadian rhythm and your ability to have a good night’s sleep.
The standard fluorescent light has both too much blue and too much total brightness. So the next light bulb we’re going to look at is a standard soft white LED. The LED still produces dirty electricity but less than the fluorescent light.
Soft white LED for your health:
The standard soft white LED, though, is still too blue and too bright, so we also tested some LEDs that are marketed as helping you to get a good night’s sleep.
We found that these LEDs had lower blue light to total light ratios than the standard LED; however, the brighter LEDs, those that are over 400 lumens, are still bright enough to disrupt your circadian rhythm, and there is still too much blue light escaping from the bulbs. The only specialty LED that passed our blueness and brightness test was the Nite Nite SCS LED.
We had better luck when we tested retro LEDs, which were built to represent the original light bulbs made by Edison. The retro LEDs that were less than 2000K color temperature and 350 lumens brightness passed our test.
Incandescent light: Healthiest light bulbs for eyes
The traditional incandescent light is nice because it doesn’t produce dirty electricity, and it has a full color spectrum that is actually similar to candlelight.
However, most incandescent lights are still too blue and too bright. There are some incandescent lights that are better; for example, this 25-watt Amber Party Lite passed our brightness test, although it was a little bit too blue. The salt lamp, which is a small incandescent bulb covered with Himalayan crystal salt, is our absolute electrical winner. These lamps are low in dirty electricity; they have a good spectrum and low blues and brightness. The only problem with incandescent lighting is that it does use more energy than the LED and fluorescent alternatives. So if you’re going to use incandescent, we recommend keeping the total number of bulbs to an absolute minimum for your lighting needs.
frequently asked question:
What is the primary issue with fluorescent lights as highlighted in the content?
Fluorescent lights produce a spiky emission spectrum due to energy passing through mercury gas, which is far from full-spectrum lighting. This can lead to potential health risks, including energizing mercury in the body.
How does fluorescent lighting affect melatonin production?
Fluorescent lights emit significant amounts of blue light and overall brightness, which can suppress melatonin production and disrupt circadian rhythms, particularly at night.
What tools were used to measure light levels in the study?
A simple light meter costing about $15 was used alongside a dichroic blue filter to specifically measure blue light levels.
What are the recommended limits for blue light and total brightness to minimize disruption of sleep?
To minimize melatonin disruption, it is recommended to keep total blue light under 1 lux and total brightness under 50 lux.
Why is the spikiness of fluorescent light spectra concerning?
The spikiness indicates that fluorescent lights do not provide a full spectrum of light, which may have adverse effects on health by affecting natural biological processes.
What makes traditional incandescent lights appealing?
Traditional incandescent lights have two primary benefits: they don’t produce “dirty electricity,” which is a type of electrical pollution, and they emit a full color spectrum of light that is similar to natural candlelight. This spectrum is often considered more pleasing and comfortable for the eyes than the light produced by some other types of bulbs.
Why are most incandescent lights considered too blue and too bright?
While incandescent bulbs do produce a full spectrum, many common incandescent bulbs still emit a significant amount of blue light, which can be harsh, especially in the evening. They can also be too bright for comfortable use, leading to eye strain.
Are there better options within the incandescent category?
Yes, there are some incandescent options that address the issues of blueness and brightness. The 25-watt Amber Party Lite is one example mentioned. While it passed a brightness test, it was still noted as being a bit too blue.
What is a salt lamp, and why is it considered a good option?
A salt lamp is a small incandescent bulb enclosed in a solid piece of Himalayan crystal salt. It’s considered a good option because it produces very little dirty electricity, has a good color spectrum, and emits low levels of both blue light and overall brightness, making it very comfortable, warm light.
What is the main drawback of incandescent lighting?
The main disadvantage of incandescent lighting is that it uses more energy than LED and fluorescent alternatives. This means higher electricity bills and a larger environmental footprint.
If choosing incandescent lighting, what is recommended for best use?
If you decide to use incandescent lighting, it is recommended to minimize the number of bulbs used to meet your lighting needs. This will help to reduce energy consumption while still allowing you to enjoy the benefits of this type of light.
Are LED or fluorescent lights bad because they produce dirty electricity?
While the text highlights incandescent lights for their lack of dirty electricity, it doesn’t specifically say that ALL LEDs or fluorescent lights are bad. Many modern LEDs have mechanisms to reduce dirty electricity. It’s important to research specific models if this is a concern. The core message is that some other light sources may generate more “dirty electricity” than incandescent.
Here are some articles about light bulbs:
best light bulb for reading in bed
best led light bulb for reading
best light bulbs for kitchen island pendants
how to choose right light bulb
Christmas lights c7 vs c9 light bulbs
Consultation: Healthiest light bulbs for eyes
So in summary, the best electric lighting choice is a salt lamp, but if you need more light, you can use a dim amber-colored incandescent light or a dim LED with a color temperature less than 2,000 K and lumens less than 350. Thank you so much for reading.