This report offers a comprehensive review of the scientific knowledge acquired in the course of the last ten years on the effects of solid state light on human health. The report considers issues that concern both large fractions of the population and small sensitive groups of people. It is intended to support policymakers, offering guidance on lighting and health, as they consider product regulatory requirements, procurement specifications, programmes to raise public awareness, and other initiatives, in particular with respect to solid state lighting (commonly known as LED lighting). However, the report will also be useful to the entire lighting community, including scientists engaged in fundamental and applied lighting research, illumination engineers, manufacturers, and lighting practitioners.

The effects of electric light on health are technology agnostic, however advances in physiology and medicine have contributed to new awareness and understanding of the impacts of light on human health. The study examines some features of SSL products that may pose a risk and which could be improved or applied differently to achieve better outcomes in terms of health and well-being.

The report covers both acute effects (effects that develop during or immediately following an exposure) of optical radiation on the eye and the skin, discomfort glare, circadian disruptions, neuro-behavioural effects, and temporal light modulation (TLM), as well as long-term effects (effects that build over months or years) including age-related macular degeneration, myopia and cancer risk.