Beware Of UV Disinfecting Devices' Limits: Watchdog

The Consumer Council on Wednesday said the performance of some UV disinfecting devices is disappointing and that the gadgets have a lot of limitations, stressing that alcohol and bleach are much cheaper and clean a lot better.

 

The watchdog tested UV disinfecting devices of eight different brands. It found that all of them can kill bacteria effectively.

 

However, when tested using H1N1 virus, the performance varies, with one model being able to inactivate only 15 per cent of the viruses. 

 

Professor Nora Tam, the chairwoman of the council’s research and testing committee, added that the disinfecting devices have a lot of limitations, for example, it may be difficult to sanitise an object with a large surface area. She said the performance also depends on whether the surface is smooth and without dirt.

  

“If people think they buy something very good and help them inactivate the virus but actually the fact is not, that will be very dangerous. Therefore, we would like to advise the consumers that these devices have limitations,” she said.

 

“Consumers should not over-rely on their disinfection advocacy, but always maintain personal and environmental hygiene and use ordinary disinfection methods such as wiping the objects surfaces with 70 per cent alcohol-based preparation or diluted bleach solution."

 

Tam also warned that accidental and excessive exposure to the ultraviolet light from the devices may cause harm to people’s eyes and skin.