The Consumer Protection Committee on Monday warned of the potential adverse health effects of direct exposure to ultraviolet-C (UVC) lamps, which have been in demand during the recent COVID-19 surge for disinfection purposes.
The committee, a unit of the central government, issued the warning based on the results of a survey of 10 UVC lamps that were purchased from e-commerce platforms and retail shops in November 2021.
It found that all 10 lamps met national standards for the product but felt the labeling on some of them was deficient and that they did pose potential health hazards if used improperly by consumers.
In a statement issued Monday, the committee said it found that all of the lamps purchased were high risk hazards to human health, meaning that a short-term or even a momentary exposure to them could injure a person's skin or eyes.
Such hazards have been seen locally, with one media reporting that children at a daycare center suffered inflammations of the cornea, called keratitis, and skin rashes due to "the improper use" of UVC lights by the facility to disinfect its premises.
At the same time, the survey found six of the 10 UVC lights posed low violet-blue light risks to the eyes, meaning that direct exposure for under 100 seconds did not pose a threat, the committee said.
Violet-blue light is considered to have antimicrobial properties to combat viruses and other microorganisms but is harmful to human retinas.
Despite those risks, only four of the 10 UVC lamps had proper labeling warning consumers to use the UVC lamp only when people or pets were not around or in places where there were no plants, and to not use it as a mosquito trap or a normal light.
Among its recommendations, the committee asked the Ministry of Economic Affairs to dealing with the labeling problems according to the law, which could mean fines, until the problems are solved.
It also urged consumers to purchase UVC lamps with labels containing a complete description of the product and appropriate warnings and suggested that a sensor that shuts the lamps off when a person comes near them be required for all UVC lamps sold in Taiwan.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel