UV Industry Associations Discourage Use of UV Light on the Human Body to Disinfect Against Coronavirus

Though recent reports suggest that ultraviolet (UV) light can be used on the human body to disinfect against the coronavirus, the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) and RadTech North America recently jointly announced that there are no protocols to advise or to permit the safe use of UV light directly on the human body at the wavelengths and exposures proven to efficiently kill viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. UV light under the conditions known to kill such viruses is also known to cause severe skin burns, skin cancer, and eye damage. The associations strongly recommend that anyone using UV light in applications that are supported by sound scientific evidence in the context of COVID-19 (e.g., to disinfect medical equipment, surfaces, or air) follow all recommended health and safety precautions and to avoid direct exposure of the body to the UV light.

The ultraviolet spectrum is a band of electromagnetic radiation at higher energies than visible light, split into four major categories: UV-A (400-315 nm), UV-B (315-280 nm), UV-C (280-200 nm), and vacuum-UV (VUV, 100-200 nm). UV-A and UV-B are present in sunlight at the Earth’s surface; these parts of the ultraviolet spectrum are common causes of sunburn and, with longer-term exposure, melanoma. The risks of human exposure to UV-A and UV-B are well known. Solar UV may be used for disinfection purposes; exposures in the order of several hours to days might be effective at treating surfaces and water. Artificial sources of UV-A and UV-B are not commonly used for disinfection.