In may 2015 year, the Department of transportation of new York took the initiative to replace approximately 250 000 old street lamps with new led lamps in all five boroughs. The city decided to switch to energy-efficient lighting to save money and time (shelf life of these lamps is 15 years and they require little maintenance). On the one hand, citizens were satisfied with the replacement of the lighting brighter because it was made by the prevention of crime. But on the other hand from residents began to receive hundreds of complaints about overly bright, «cutting the eyes» light. New Yorkers supported the American medical Association (AMA), which has warned the city authorities about potentially harmful effects on human health and the environment led bulbs. Consequences, which can lead to their frequent use, vision impairment and sleep disturbance. For urban authorities the Association has produced a series of recommendations on the selection of safe led street lamps.
Among other things, the guidelines indicate that at night, the lights should not have index color temperature higher than 3000 Kelvin (K). The higher the number the brighter the lights and more blue in it or white that can have a negative impact on vision. To date, the street lights of new York shining in the level of 4,000 to 5,000 K.
Range of led lighting is different from sunlight. In its composition, it has different color shades. For example, too much blue can cause the appearance of lens flare and glare. A surplus of yellow and red can damage the retina. White light suppresses melatonin, which is produced in the body mostly at night. Hence, people may experience insomnia. But what is most dangerous, incorrectly chosen led lighting is harmful to health not only in terms of daily use at work or home, but while walking around the city, illuminated with led lights. Moreover, it can also scare away birds that nest along the coast.
Obviously, now the city authorities will have to think about changing street lighting.
