The health risks associated with exposure to visible light are well known in the case of, for example, prolonged exposure to intense radiation sources (arc welding without eye protection, gazing directly at the sun without the appropriate sunglasses, etc.). The development of new light sources (LED) or new technologies (3D) currently raises the question of their impact on eyesight, especially for those who are most sensitive such as children, particularly during the development phase of eyesight, as well as relating to long-term consequences. ANSES presents its work in this area.

The European Parliament Directive (2005/32/EC) on ecodesign requirements for energy-using products provides for improvement of the energy performance of certain consumer products. Electric lighting falls within the scope of the Directive and incandescent lamps for domestic lighting are therefore to be gradually phased out between 2009 and 2017. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), also known as “energy-saving lamps”, or other more energy-efficient sources of lighting such as LED lamps may in time replace these older products. In this regard, the Agency was approached by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) in 2008 and by the Ministries for Consumer Affairs, Health and the Environment in 2011, and asked to assess human exposure to the electromagnetic fields emitted by these lamps.