Abstract The COVID‐19 pandemic provided a commercial opportunity for traders marketing a range of ultraviolet (UV) radiation products for home‐use disinfection. Due to concerns about the efficacy of such products and the potential for harmful levels of UV exposure to people, a range of products were purchased from on‐line trading platforms. Spectral irradiance measurements were carried out to determine whether the products could be effective against the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus and whether they were likely to exceed internationally agreed exposure limits. It was concluded that many of the devices were not effective and many of those that were potentially effective presented a risk to users. 48 devices available for UK consumers in April–July 2020 and marketed for home use UV‐C disinfection were assessed. They included devices for area exposure, handheld wands, enclosures/boxes and one vacuum cleaner; nine out of 48 devices did not emit radiation effective for inactivation of viruses. Effectiveness of disinfection depends on design, surface area covered, direct line‐of‐sight, exposure time and distance between the UV‐C device and the treated surface. Where access to UV radiation was not prevented by in‐built safety features, exposure to emission from these devices may result in a risk to the eyes and skin.
【초록키워드】 viruses, Efficacy, pandemic, risk, COVID‐19, Features, ultraviolet, inactivation, eye, Radiation, limits, SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, effective, carried, nine, provided, treated, determine, prevented, Spectral, were assessed, 【제목키워드】 survey, Disinfection, product,