ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 By now, you\u2019ve probably spotted at least one streetlight turning a blueish-purple hue while walking or driving in the evening.<\/p>\n
No, they\u2019re not meant to be that color. While the lights still work as their intended purpose, there is a manufacturer defect that was recently identified, according to Duke Energy and Acuity Brands, the maker of the lights.<\/p>\n
The effect occurred in a small percentage of American Electric Lighting fixtures with components that have not been sold for several years, according to a news release from Acuity. <\/p>\n
WHAT\u2019S HAPPENING TO THE LIGHTS?<\/p>\n
Acuity said it is due to a \u201cspectral shift caused by phosphor displacement\u201d usually seen years after installation. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s a defect that\u2019s unique to LED lighting.<\/p>\n
You see, LED lighting tends to be more durable than other types of lighting with better quality than its counterparts. But LED lighting doesn\u2019t naturally produce white light, per Scientific American<\/a>.<\/p>\n Street lights that have turned purple illuminate N John Young Parkway in Orlando. (Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n As such, the white LEDs drivers typically see on the roadway aren\u2019t actually white; they\u2019re often some mix of red, blue and green to make them appear white.<\/p>\n Manufacturers can use blue LEDs and coat them with phosphor \u2014 a substance that helps emit light. The phosphor can absorb some of the blue wavelengths so that only the red and yellow ones come out, which makes the white light that streetlights primarily shine.<\/p>\n But in this case, the phosphor coating has peeled away from the bulb, which exposes the blue light underneath and causes the streetlights to appear purple.<\/p>\n ARE THEY DANGEROUS?<\/p>\n According to Acuity, the lights don\u2019t pose a major threat to drivers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe light output is in no way harmful or unsafe. As always, we stand behind the quality of our products, and we have been proactively working with customers who have experienced the issue to address any concerns,\u201d Acuity said.<\/p>\n Street lights that have turned purple illuminate N John Young Parkway in Orlando. (Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n