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But how do they work well? Maybe not as good as people think, says the Food and Drug Administration.
Lamps that use ultraviolet light to kill germs can inactivate the coronavirus, but they are not always safe and it is not known how successful they are at killing the virus, the FDA said in a recently released advisory.
Ultraviolet light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum emitted by the sun and can also be produced by light bulbs. UVC rays are absorbed by ozone in the ozone of the earth’s atmosphere, but UVA and UVB rays reach the earth’s surface and can cause sunburn and skin cancer if people have too much. .
The FDA has said UVC wavelengths are better than UVA and UVB rays at destroying viruses, but UVC lamps have their limitations.
In addition, the lamps only work under limited circumstances, which do not mimic many real-life situations.
“It is important to recognize that, generally, UVC cannot inactivate a virus or bacteria if it is not directly exposed to UVC. In other words, the virus or bacteria will not be inactivated if it is covered with dust or soil, embedded in the surface or on the underside of a surface, ”the FDA said.
There are real dangers
There has been an explosion of products offered to combat the coronavirus, including germicidal lamps. The World Health Organization warns against any attempt to use them to disinfect human skin, including the hands.
If a light is to inactivate a virus, it takes time and intensity to do so. A rapid flash of weak light will do no harm to a virus, and if it is strong enough to take apart a virus, it could damage human skin and especially sensitive eyes.
“Direct exposure of the skin and eyes to UVC radiation from some UVC lamps can cause painful eye damage and burn-like skin reactions,” warns the FDA. “Never look directly at a UVC lamp source, even briefly.”
In addition, some UVC lamps generate ozone, which can irritate the respiratory tract. “UVC can degrade certain materials, such as plastics, polymers, and dyed textiles,” the FDA added.
“Some UVC lamps contain mercury. Because mercury is poisonous even in small amounts, extreme care should be taken when cleaning a broken lamp and disposing of the lamp.”
Pulsed xenon lights can be used to disinfect hospital rooms, but the strong light means they’re used when people aren’t in the room, the FDA said.
LED lights can produce UV radiation but they don’t cover much area, making them “less effective for germicidal applications,” the FDA said.
CNN’s Sandee LaMotte contributed to this story.
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