FDA Warns Against Certain UV Disinfection Wands

Certain UV wands marketed for disinfecting household items may expose the user and those nearby to unsafe levels of UV-C radiation that may harm eyes and skin with a few seconds of exposure, the FDA warned. A continuously updated list of wands is on the agency's website. During FDA testing, some UV-C disinfection wands gave off more than 3000 times the UV-C radiation deemed safe under international standards at a distance of 2 inches. Exposure can quickly result in erythema of the skin and photokeratitis of the eye, or both. "When a product is advertised to disinfect in seconds, it likely means that it gives off an unsafe level of UV-C radiation," the statement said. The tested wands also lacked adequate safety features and instructions or information about the radiation emitted and associated risks.