LED Lights Could Be ‘The New Asbestos’, UCL Scientists Warn
HealthThe European Magazine

LED Lights Could Be ‘The New Asbestos’, UCL Scientists Warn

UCL scientists are warning that spending long hours under LED lighting, with little natural daylight, could raise the risk of diabetes and other metabolic disorders over time.

UCL scientists warn prolonged LED exposure could affect mitochondrial function and raise concerns about diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

The Long Sip
What happened

UCL scientists have warned that prolonged exposure to LED lighting may disrupt how cells generate energy and raise the risk of diabetes and metabolic disorders.

The detail

LEDs emit high levels of blue light but little near-infrared light, which the researchers say helps mitochondria function properly and is found in sunlight and older bulbs.

What it means

The researchers suggest spending time outdoors daily and using at least one incandescent or halogen bulb per room to restore the wavelengths LEDs lack.

For you

The researchers recommend getting outside in natural daylight every day and keeping at least one incandescent or halogen bulb in each room to restore missing wavelengths.

Full story at The European Magazine

What readers are saying

ChildfreeChloe
It is interesting that the researchers found the body starts responding to exclusive LED light within minutes, not years. Making sure to get outside in natural daylight every day seems like a non-negotiable now to balance out the lack of near-infrared wavelengths. 💡☀️
RetiredBanjo
It might be worth keeping an old halogen lamp in the living room to provide those missing red wavelengths the scientists mentioned. Spending time in the garden during the day is clearly more important for our health than just getting fresh air.
Vernao
Comparing light bulbs to asbestos is a very serious warning...

More from Cuppa

Granit Xhaka admits to receiving fake Covid vaccination certificate in 2022

Switzerland and Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka has admitted he obtained a fake Covid vaccination certificate in 2022 and has been dropped from the Swiss squad.

Converse apologizes and pulls ad that critics said evoked racist imagery

Converse pulled an Instagram ad featuring K-pop star Karina after critics said the lighting and composition evoked KKK and lynching imagery.

Pope Leo XIV: AI must serve human dignity and strengthen peace

Pope Leo XIV has called for AI development to be guided by wisdom and charity, urging it be used as a tool for peace rather than conflict.

China expels two top generals from party and military, alleging disloyalty, corruption

China has expelled two of its most senior military generals from the Communist Party over corruption, disloyalty and abuse of office.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico to sue over White House ban

CNN, MSNBC and Politico are suing the Trump administration after being banned from White House access, arguing it breaches their First Amendment rights.

Brownlow Tracker: Every vote, every game and full leaderboard

Nick Daicos won the 2026 Brownlow Medal with a record 47 votes, breaking Patrick Cripps' previous record of 45.

Police officer and man injured in shooting outside Belleville, Ont., synagogue

A police officer and a man were both shot outside a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, as the Jewish community gathered for Yom Kippur, with the man hospitalised in a life-threatening condition.

The Houthis’ offensive is the latest spillover from Trump’s Iran disaster

The Houthis have seized a strategic Red Sea port and strait after entering the US-Iran conflict, displacing over 100,000 people and threatening global energy supplies.

Back to the feed