Dear Supporters,

This research article from 2018 states, "High energy short wave blue light between 415 and 455 nm is the most harmful. Direct penetration of crystals into the retina causes irreversible photochemical retinal damage."  Blue wavelength, 450nm, 6500K light is exactly what you see in the photo for this post, causing "irreversible photochemical retinal damage." ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6288536/) Neither the FDA nor NHTSA have published the required performance standards to limit blue wavelength light from LED headlights.  This retinal damage is also cumulative.  To protect your eyes, do not look at an LED headlight and do not let children look at an LED headlight.

For those interested in how LED radiation is supposed to be regulated, you may read this Harvard University article which provides the history of radiation regulation in the USA up through 2006.  (https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/8846732/Tran06.pdf) The article discusses how television sets and microwave ovens used to leak radiation, and the creation of 21 C.F.R. 1040.10 for lasers, 1040.20 for sunlamps, 1040.30 for mercury vapor.  What is missing is 1040.40 for LEDs, despite our regulatory petition submitted on June 12, 2022 and despite the nearly 50,000 comments on this petition.

Neither the FDA nor NHTSA are listening to us.  We have successfully met with staff members for several members of Congress and this line of action is ongoing, but we need more members of Congress to listen.  Please consider contacting your Congressperson and requesting a video meeting with you, the Soft Lights Foundation, and the Policy Analyst for your Congressperson. Email me and I will send you two letters to deliver to your member of Congress and the easy steps for you to take to set up this meeting.

Sincerely,
Mark Baker
President
Soft Lights Foundation
mbaker@softlights.org