NEA Warns the Public Not to Use Ultraviolet-C (UVC) Disinfection Devices to Disinfect Homes

By
Shawn Ambrose
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These days, people don’t often verify the things they read and hear on the grapevine.

For instance, if there were a WhatsApp message going around claiming that milk can cause heart disease if you drink it between the hours of 7am and 2pm, some people would distribute the warning to all their friends before checking if it’s true. They’d also never have cereal for breakfast again.

This has been happening time and time again during the COVID-19 pandemic, where misinformation about supposed treatments and preventative medicines have been rife.

This time it isn’t a fake COVID-19 cure that the authorities are worried about, but a disinfection device.

NEA Warns the Public Not to Use Ultraviolet-C (UVC) Disinfection Devices to Disinfect Homes

The National Environmental Agency (NEA) has warned the public not to purchase Ultraviolet-C (UVC) disinfection devices for use at home, as it could be unsafe.

NEA noted that the demand for UVC disinfection devices have been growing during the pandemic, as residents aim to keep their houses free from the disease.

But the agency warned that exposure to UVC radiation due to inappropriate use or unsafe sterilisers can cause eye or skin injuries, including:

  • UVC damage to the cornea, with burning sensations and sensitivity to light
  • burns resulting in redness and peeling of the skin

It noted that such sterilisers marketed for home use lack safety features that protect users from unintended or accidental exposure to UV radiation.

Members of the public should buy only UVC sterilisers where the UVC sources are properly contained with “safety engineering features that prevent users from being exposed to the UVC radiation,” it said.

Such features include:

  • motion sensors for portable UVC lamps and UVC bulbs
  • gravity sensors for handheld UVC steriliers or portable UVC wands
  • for UVC disinfection boxes, a function that automatically switches the UVC light off when the box is open

Always avoid looking directly into a UVC light source as well as direct skin exposure to UVC radiation. If you have already purchased such a device without any safety features, you should stop using it immediately.

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8,000 Listings of Unsafe UVC Sterilisers Removed From E-commerce Platforms

NEA said that it has been working with both physical and online stores to remove listings of UVC sterilisers that are unsafe.

To date, it has removed 8,000 listings of unsafe UVC sterilisers from online sales platforms. E-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Carousell, Ezbuy.sg, Qoo10.sg, and Shopee have started to remove these listings from their platforms.

“While NEA has made every effort to work with major online sales platform operators in this regard, given the vast number of retailers that may advertise on online sales platforms from time to time, the public is advised to exercise discretion and vigilance when purchasing UVC sterilisers,” it added.

Be it a treatment or preventative measure, always verify its efficacy and safety with a credible source before buying and using it.

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Featured Image: Nor Gal / Shutterstock.com

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: [email protected]