If you’re planning to purchase an ultraviolet (UV) light device to help disinfect your space, you might want to reconsider. The Department of Health recently issued a warning against the personal use of these devices.
In an online press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire explained that UV light devices should only be used in hospitals and other healthcare centers. She also notes that there is currently no evidence that indicates the effectiveness of these devices when it comes to disinfecting non-healthcare facilities.
The secretary cited guidelines released by the World Health Organization (WHO), which note that UV light devices are designed with healthcare settings in mind. The organization added that these are used when rooms are unoccupied for the safety of staff and patients, and factors like room size and lamp placement affect how effective UV light devices are.
WHO also added that UV light devices only supplement manual cleaning procedures. Vergeire instead advised the public to continue using alcohol or bleach solutions to clean their homes and follow DOH’s advisories.
Additionally, Vergeire noted that the improper use of UV light devices can cause damage to one’s eyesight and skin, as well as increase the risk for skin cancer.
Header photo by Coleopter on Wikimedia Commons
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