Will UV light in bug zapper hurt your eyes?

What you will discover
A one-stop shop for getting rid of insect pests is a bug zapper.

In the house, bothersome flying insects can cause a lot of trouble. It might be difficult to choose the appropriate gadget to get rid of these pests, but bug zappers are available to make your life simpler.

There are several benefits to using bug zappers instead of other insect killing tools. Unfortunately, we frequently take their ability to kill insects for granted and fail to consider any potential negative impacts on people.

Do your eyes feel any different than before you used the insect zapper?

To learn what consequences it could have, continue reading.

It begins to feel like someone threw a pail of sand behind your eyes if you stare straight into the insect zapper for an extended period of time. This might develop into a severe migraine that will make you feel like a bullet just passed through your brain. Yet, it is accurate to say that extended exposure to the UV light of insect zappers will cause eyesight issues.

Bug zappers use intense UV light to draw insects to them.

The insect pests are drawn to the device's center, which is often between two metal grids, where they are shocked to death.

Although while it might be interesting to watch insects that fly at night get zapped and destroyed, you should avoid staring directly into the bug zapper for a number of reasons.

Let's first examine what ultraviolet light is and the many UV light bulb kinds;

What does UV light entail?
The electromagnetic radiation known as ultraviolet light has longer wavelengths than Xrays but shorter wavelengths than visible light.

While UV light is normally measured in nanometers, electromagnetic waves are often measured in meters (nm). As they are at the short end of the visible spectrum, our eyes cannot see them.

How does UV light work?
Shorter than visible light but longer than X-rays, ultraviolet light is a kind of electromagnetic energy.

The size of UV light is measured in nanometers as opposed to the usual units for electromagnetic waves, which are meters (nm). Due to their short length in the visible spectrum, they are undetectable to the human eye.

UV light types
There are three different forms of UV light, as we've already discussed, based on their wavelengths;

UV-A rays
The wavelengths of UV-A are the longest and range from 350 to 400 nm. It is responsible for around 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the surface of the earth.

Blacklight blue (BLB) and Blacklight (BL350/BL 368) UV-A light are available. Blacklight Blue is frequently used in UV nail lights, nightclub illumination, anti-theft prevention, spotting fake bank checks, and scorpion detection.

Because to its small wavelength, blacklight UV light is suitable for use in bug zappers, polymerization, and tanning beds.

the UV-B spectrum
The median wavelength of ultraviolet light is known as UV-B radiation.

The atmosphere filters out the majority of UV-B radiation. It facilitates sunburn in tanning salons and helps some animals absorb calcium and produce vitamin D3. Moreover, it hastens the aging process of the skin and the growth of skin cancer. The thinned or depleted ozone layer causes exposure to UV-B radiation.

UV-C rays
As it has the shortest wavelength of any UV radiation, it does the most harm. These go under the name "germicidal UV lamps" as well. It primarily attacks microorganisms' DNA, leading to cell death. It renders bacteria inactive or fatal. While handling germicidal UV lights, one should use considerable caution.

They are ideal for disinfecting the air in operating rooms and hospitals, cleaning wastewater, sanitizing food preparation surfaces, and sterilizing medical equipment.

Overall, each of these UV lamps has a specialized purpose, and combining them might be extremely harmful to your health, particularly your eyes.

According to a convincing assessment from an internal inquiry by the health physics society, the UV lights used in insect zappers are not powerful enough to harm your eyes.

Only when the incorrect UV bulbs are used or combined, which is uncommon with the appropriate manufacturers, may harm occur. Your eyes ought to be secure.

Is insect zapper UV light dangerous?
Although UV radiation has many advantages, too much UV exposure can be harmful to your health. Unless someone approaches the bug zapper too closely, directly faces it, or is exposed to it for an extended period of time, the UV light it emits won't pose a serious threat to them.

Since UV-A has longer wavelengths, it penetrates more effectively and consumes less energy. This light can enter the skin and has been linked to a higher risk of skin cancer development.

Moreover, UV-A radiation has been shown to result in sunburns. The majority of sunscreens were first designed to shield the skin against UV-B rays. Once they discovered how harmful UV-A rays can be, sunscreen producers now include chemicals that shield you from both UV-A and UV-B rays.

Despite UV-A photons having a somewhat lower intensity than the other UV light types, extended exposure to this light can cause more serious skin damage. This may harm the cells in the deepest layer of your skin, which is where skin cancer generally develops.

The skin darkens in an effort to stop more harm as this continues. The tanning result is caused by this. The majority of tanning beds employ UV-A for this reason, although frequent usage of tanning beds is bad for your skin over time.

Some skin problems are caused by UV-A in large quantities. It hastens aging, collagen loss, skin discolouration, elasticity loss, and the formation of deep creases on the face. Carcinoma may result from this skin cellular damage.

In conclusion, the UV light intensity utilized in insect zappers cannot cause any of these problems despite all the negative effects linked to UV-A. Bug zappers' UV light won't endanger you or your family because they are not dangerous.

The UV-A light intensity declines with increasing distance from the bulb, much like all other forms of energy. Because they pose no risk to people, bug zappers are installed high up in homes to capture more insects.

How to shield your skin from UV rays
Sometimes being exposed to UV rays is unavoidable.

Due to their thinner skin than adults, children are especially susceptible to UV exposure. A severe case of sunburn may necessitate hospitalization.

So, if you find yourself in a situation where UV rays are being employed, such as in bug zappers, it is imperative to protect both yourself and any children present.

These are some precautions to take in order to shield oneself from UV light:

When exposed to UV radiation, use protective clothes. Avoid wearing clothing that exposes the majority of your skin. Wear long sleeves, long skirts, and long pants to block the sun. The darker the clothes, the better. Moreover, make sure the fabric is dry since dry fabric gives additional protection. Ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) apparel is the standard protective attire and offers the greatest level of protection.
If you must stare straight at a bug zapper while it is on, protect your eyes by using sunglasses with 100% UV protection.
At least 15 minutes before entering an area with UV radiation exposure, liberally apply sunscreen. Make sure the sunscreen you choose has an SPF of 30 or higher. Invest on a broad-spectrum sunscreen. They have undergone testing and have been shown to block UV-A and UV-B rays.
To preserve the delicate skin of your lips, apply lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Wool, polyester, nylon, and silk are among the fabrics that offer the best UV protection.

Can an insect zapper harm a person?
Most homeowners are worried about the risk that insect zappers offer to people for safety reasons.

High voltage is used in zappers to electrocute and destroy insects. 2000 volts to 4000 volts is the possible voltage range.

If the insect zapper is turned on and you contact it while the current is flowing, your body will experience a little jolt. Yet, this shock does not result in serious injury or long-term harm.

Those with heart conditions or cardiac pacemakers should never touch a bug zapper while it is on. This is due to the possibility of atrial defibrillation if the pacemaker is disrupted by the electricity from the bug zapper.

The fact that insect zappers pose no health concerns to people is one of its many advantages.

In order to get rid of insects in your house, they don't use any chemicals or toxic materials. The insect zapper's enclosure aids in reducing the impacts of the electric current that passes through the wire grids. Hence, even if you could feel a bit shocked when you contact it, this is nothing you can't get over quickly.

According to the food and drug administration, insect zappers pose little danger to people.

Nevertheless, stronger UV lamps, such as those that employ UVB and UVC rays, can harm the eyes and induce skin responses. Humans can safely use bug zappers.

Can you safely use insect zappers inside?
Bug zappers are more frequently needed indoors as opposed to outside. The fact that insect zappers were created for indoor usage is one of its main applications.

If you want to install a bug zapper inside your house, make sure the area is away from children, water, and fire hazards.

It's crucial to pick the ideal spot within your house for a bug zapper.

They shouldn't be positioned close to draperies or other soft furnishings. By placing bug zappers next to non-metallic objects, electric charges from the zapper's metal grids may transfer to the non-metallic object, starting a fire.

Where should an insect zapper be placed indoors?
A bit higher above the ground is the best location for an insect zapper.

To improve their efficiency, bug zappers should be hung from a high place where the target insect pests congregate. As a result of this, it is also more safer for kids and animals because they can't easily get it.

UV light bulbs are used in bug zappers to draw insects. It is advisable to position the zappers in a dark room or area because UV radiation is more noticeable there.

Make sure the lighting in the space isn't too bright so that the UV light can shine more brightly. To make sure that the insects are easily attracted to the zapper, keep distractions to a minimum surrounding it.

Place the zappers on each room entry for the best coverage.

Will a home fire start from a bug zapper?
Like any other electrical equipment, utilizing a bug zapper has a small danger of fire. When an insect is electrified, the explosive components of a bug zapper are revealed, and occasionally enormous insects erupt in flames.

Be selective about where you put a bug zapper in your house. Keep it away from anything that may blow into it, including loose fittings or light materials. Be sure there is nothing flammable close to the placing spot.

Provide sufficient safety fuses as well for any emergencies.

Generally, the likelihood of a fire starting when zappers are used and set properly is quite low. Please don't leave them unattended for a long time or close to kids or animals.

Benwei UV 120cm led tube black light Product Specification: