LED technology might not be as eco-friendly as you think

post, Mar 9, 2012 on Mitja Felicijan's blog

There is a lot of talk about LED technology. It is beginning to infiltrate +industry at a fast rate, and it’s a challenge for designers and also engineers. +I wondered when a weakness will be revealed. Then I stomped on an article +talking about harm in using LED technology. It looks like this magical +technology is not so magical and eco-friendly.

A new study from the University of California indicates that LED lights contain +toxic metals, and should be produced, used and disposed of carefully. Besides +the lead and nickel, the bulbs and their associated parts were also found to +contain arsenic, copper, and other metals that have been linked to different +cancers, neurological damage, kidney disease, hypertension, skin rashes and +other illnesses in humans, and to ecological damage in waterways.

Since then, I haven’t yet found any regulation for disposal of LED lights or any +other regulation or standard. This might be a problem in the future. And it is a +massive drawback. This might have quite an impact on consumer market.

Nevertheless, there is a potential, and I am sure the market will adapt. I also +hope I will be reading documents regarding solution for this concern soon.

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