8 Ultraviolet Wands Could Pose a Radiation Injury Hazard, F.D.A. warns

The agency advised consumers to avoid using disinfectants due to high levels of radiation that could damage skin or eyes .

The United States Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers against purchasing eight ultraviolet wands used for disinfection due to high levels of radiation that could cause injury, the agency said on Wednesday.

Some UV wands are said to have up to 3,000 times the recommended amount of ultraviolet-C radiation exposure, the F.D.A. said. The eight products are:

Safe T Lite from Max-lux Corporation

OttLite Rechargeable UVC Disinfection Wand, model UV10002M, from OttLite Technologies

UVILIZER FLIP, model SG-153 from In My Bathroom LLC.

Portable UV Sterilizer Light Wand, also from In My Bathroom

Sterilamp UV PURPLEGLOW from Vanelc

Sharper Image UV Sanitizing Portable Wand , model 101362 by MerchSource LLC

SurfaceSoap UV by PhoneSoap LLC

Magic UV Light Sanitizer by Magic UV Light Sanitizer

Use of the products or their proximity may cause erythema, a burn-like skin reaction, or photokeratitis, eye damage which may cause severe pain, only after that few seconds of exposure, the F.D.A. said. The products also lacked proper safety information, the agency noted.

"When a product is advertised to disinfect in seconds, it likely means that it gives off a dangerous level of UV-C radiation," the agency wrote. "The F.D.A. recommends that consumers not use these products and consider using safer alternative methods. »

The F.D.A. sent letters to the product's makers notifying them of the defect, the agency said, and it planned to work with the companies to "ensure adequate corrective actions".

Rochelle Torke, a spokeswoman for PhoneSoap, said the UV wand in question has undergone rigorous safety testing and also has a hand guard and "other features" that help prevent dangerous exposure to UV-C light.

"Phonesoap takes these concerns very seriously and is actively engaging with the F.D.A. to explore resolutions," Ms. Torke wrote in a "After 10 years of leadership in UV light technology, we've always put safety first with every product we've designed. Our UV disinfection wand is no exception.”

Other companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ultraviolet tools have been used for decades to help stop the spread of bacteria, the F.D.A. said. But amid the coronavirus pandemic, interest in the products grew as people searched for solutions to kill the virus. The ultraviolet disinfection industry is expected to reach $8.3 billion by 2027, according to a Reportlinker.com report earlier this year.

Research shows that UV radiation can kill Covid-19 bacteria but the F.D.A. says more information is needed on its effectiveness, duration, and strength of dose.

Overexposure to UV rays can lead to serious health issues, including skin cancer,...