Study Says LED Bulbs Actually Contribute To Light Pollution, Diabetes, And Cancer

LED light bulbs are increasing in popularity all over the world due to its energy-saving benefits while still maintaining brightness. Unfortunately, it seems LED bulbs are also contributing to the increase in light pollution all over the globe according to a recent study. What’s more, this is putting more humans and animals at risk of developing major diseases.

As Futurism notes, LED lights were a huge advancement in the energy revolution. Not only are they incredibly helpful in saving energy, they also provide plenty of light. Unfortunately, this has led to the increase in the number of bulbs installed. It’s a regrettable side-effect of knowing that the LED light bulbs will not cost too much in terms of the electricity bill.

In a recently-published paper on the journal Science Advances, researchers indicate that LED lights have contributed to the rise in light pollution by 2.2 percent per year. The authors consider this unsustainable simply because of its effects on the environment and human health.

“Large differences in national growth rates were observed, with lighting remaining stable or decreasing in only a few countries. These data are not consistent with global scale energy reductions but rather indicate increased light pollution, with corresponding negative consequences for flora, fauna, and human well-being,” the paper reads.

The cause of the increase in installations of LED bulbs is equated to drivers using their energy-efficient vehicles more often than gas-guzzling models. By removing the high costs of gas from the equation, the consumers defeat the purpose of getting the car in the first place.

Some of the consequences of an increase in light pollution include a rise in the rate of obesity, depression, and even cancer. Basically, if more cities install LED lights at the same rate, light pollution could reach devastating levels. This would then cause major health troubles for future generations.