Incandescent and halogen light bulbs for general lighting do not meet new energy efficiency requirements and are gradually being phased out. Newer artificial light sources such as compact fluorescent lights and light emitting diodes (LEDs) provide more energy-efficient alternatives. A question that is sometimes raised is whether exposure to light from new artificial sources could lead to adverse health outcomes. Various studies into the photochemically-induced retinal damage due to extended exposures to blue light have been conducted under very high irradiances.

In our study, we have examined the level of light exposure in everyday working lives. Average indoor and outdoor blue-light irradiance and illuminance of day working hospital employees show that exposure conditions in studies mentioned above cannot be instructive in determining health risks from long-term light exposure from artificial sources for general lighting.

The complete article is a chapter of the book "Proceedings of the 29th CIE SESSION Washington D.C., USA, June 14-22, 2019" (http://files.cie.co.at/x046_2019/x046-OP19.pdf).