Health effects of occupational exposure to LED light: A special reference to plant cultivation works in plant factories

Abstract

Light-emitting diode (LED) is one of the greatest inventions that changed plant production practices in the plant factories. Two main advantages of LED lighting are high-energy efficiency and arbitrary controllability of spectral design. In spite of the rapid advancements in LED lighting technology, workability and occupational health are not considered during plant factory design. In this chapter, I depict the impaired workability and the possible health problems associated with LED lighting. Plant utilizes blue light (BL) for photosynthesis, while BL may cause serious chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and breast cancer in humans by abnormal regulation of the human circadian rhythm. High-intensity BL also damages the lens and retina of the human eye, resulting in chronic visual impairment. The germicidal UV-C light causes severe chronic eye diseases in the laborers. Glare from the luminaires reduces visual performance and visibility, resulting in decrease of the laborers’ productivity. The possible improvements that can be made to regulate the lighting environment will be discussed with special reference to the plant factories and the greenhouses with luminaires. Regulation of the lighting in the working environment will improve feasibility and comfort as well as raise productivity and health of the laborers.