WASHINGTON D.C., DC — If you've used a UV wand to try and disinfect surfaces and personal items, you may have exposed yourself to unsafe levels of UV-C radiation.
UV lamps and wands have been marketed for killing the COVID-19 virus on surfaces. However, according to the FDA, there is little evidence of their effectiveness, especially in consumer-grade devices. There is, however, evidence of the dangers they present, including damage to eyes and skin.
The Max-Lux Safe-T-Lite UV Wand is a consumer-grade product that could potentially harm you. While the device hasn't been recalled, the FDA says that using it "may expose the user or any nearby person to unsafe levels of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation and may cause injury to the skin, eyes, or both after a few seconds of use." During the recommended use time of 30 to 60 seconds, the device emits a level of radiation more than 3,000 times stronger than what is recommended by an international group of experts for an ultraviolet exposure limit at a distance of about two inches. The user or any person near a Safe-T-Lite UV WAND may experience an injury to the skin (erythema), eyes (photokeratitis), or both after a few seconds of exposure.
The effectiveness of the device is also limited. In using UV radiation to kill the COVID-19 virus, the FDA says:
- Direct exposure: UVC radiation can only inactivate a virus if the virus is directly exposed to the radiation. Therefore, the inactivation of viruses on surfaces may not be effective due to blocking of the UV radiation by soil, such as dust, or other contaminants such as bodily fluids.
- Dose and duration: Many of the UVC lamps sold for home use are of low dose, so it may take longer exposure to a given surface area to potentially provide effective inactivation of a bacteria or virus.
- Research: The effectiveness of UVC lamps in inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus is unknown because there is limited published data about the wavelength, dose, and duration of UVC radiation required to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is important to recognize that, generally, UVC cannot inactivate a virus or bacterium if it is not directly exposed to UVC.
The physical risks of using UV wands go beyond just mild irritation. The FDA warns:
- Direct exposure of skin and eyes to UVC radiation from some UVC lamps may cause painful eye injury and burn-like skin reactions. Never look directly at a UVC lamp source, even briefly. If you have experienced an injury associated with using a UVC lamp, we encourage you to report it to the FDA.
- Some UVC lamps generate ozone. Ozone inhalation can be irritating to the airway.
- UVC can degrade certain materials, such as plastic, polymers, and dyed textile.
- Some UVC lamps contain mercury. Because mercury is toxic even in small amounts, extreme caution is needed in cleaning a lamp that has broken and in disposing of the lamp.
If you think you've been injured by the wand, you can use the Accidental Radiation Occurrence Report form to submit a report on any radiation incident or potentially hazardous event.