Bug zappers are a one-stop solution to getting rid of insect pests.

Pesky flying insects can be so annoying and bring a lot of discomfort around the home. Deciding on the best device to eliminate these insects can be overwhelming – but bug zappers are here to make things easier for you.

There are so many reasons you should choose bug zappers over other bug killer devices. However, we are often too grateful for their insect killer properties that we ignore the potential side effects on humans.

Do your eyes feel some way after exposure to the bug zapper?

Well, read on to find what effects it may have.

If you look directly into the bug zapper for a long time, it starts to feel like someone dumped a bucket of sand under your eyelids. This can progress to an intense migraine that will leave you feeling like someone put a bullet through your head. That being said, it is true that prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light in bug zappers will result in vision problems.

Bug zappers attract insects by emitting high-intensity UV light.

The irresistible lure of this light brings the insect pests to the center of the device – usually between two metal grids – where they are electrocuted to death.

As entertaining as it can be to watch night-flying insects get zapped and killed, you should not stare directly into the bug zapper for several reasons.

First, let us have a look at what ultraviolet light is and the different types of UV light bulbs;

What is ultraviolet light?

Uv light is a type of electromagnetic radiation with shorter wavelengths than normal light and longer wavelengths than Xrays.

Electromagnetic waves are typically measured in meters, but the UV light is so small that it is measured in nanometers (nm). They are on the shortest end of the visible spectrum, making them invisible to the eyes.

Types of UV light

As we have mentioned, there are three types of UV light depending on their wavelengths;

UV-A light

UV-A has the highest wavelengths of about 350nm to 400nm. It accounts for nearly 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the earth’s surface.

UV-A light comes in blacklight blue (BLB) and Blacklight (BL350/BL 368). Blacklight Blue is typical y used in nightclub lighting, anti-theft protection, detecting forged bank cheques, scorpion detections, and UV nail lamps.

Blacklight UV light has the shortest wavelength hence safe to be used in Bug zappers, polymerization, and sun tanning.

UV-B radiation

UV-B radiation is the medium wavelength of ultraviolet light.

Most UV-B rays are filtered by the atmosphere. It enhances sunburn in tanning beds and for vitamin D3 synthesis and calcium absorption in some pets. Additionally, it accelerates skin aging and also the development of skin cancer. Exposure to UV-B radiation results from the ozone layer becoming thin or depleted.

UV-C light

This has the shortest wavelength making it the most damaging type of UV light. They are also known as germicidal UV lights. It mainly targets the DNA of microorganisms, causing cell death. It inactivates or kills microbes. One should exercise extreme caution when handling germicidal UV lamps.

They are perfect for sterilizing medical equipment, treating wastewater, sanitizing food preparation surfaces, and air disinfection in hospitals and operating rooms.

Overall, each of these UV lights have their specific use, and when mixed, the results could be disastrous to your health, especially your eyes.

An internal investigation with the health physics society has given out a conclusive report that the UV lights used in bug zappers are not intense enough to cause damage to your eyeballs.

The only way damage can occur is when the wrong UV bulbs are used or mixed, which seldom happens with the right manufacturers. Your eyes should be safe.

Is the UV light from bug zappers harmful?

UV lights have several useful qualities, but prolonged UV exposure can be detrimental to one’s health. The Uv light emitted by the bug zapper would not be significantly harmful unless one stays too close to it, looks into it directly, or has prolonged exposure to the light.

UV-A has longer wavelengths meaning it has better penetration and uses less energy. This light can penetrate the skin and has been known to enhance the development of skin cancer.

Uv-A radiation has also been proven to cause sunburn. Initially, most sunscreens were made to protect the skin against UV-B radiation. Sunscreen manufacturers have since realized how dangerous UV-A rays can be and now add ingredients to sunscreen to protect you from both UV-A and UV-B.

While UV-A rays are slightly less intense than the other types of UV light, prolonged exposure to this light can penetrate your skin more deeply. This can cause damage to the cells on the innermost part of your skin layer, where skin cancer occurs typically.

As this continues, the skin tries to prevent further damage by darkening. This brings about the tanning effect. This is why UV-A is used in most tanning beds, but continuous use of tanning beds is not suitable for your skin in the long run.

UV-A is responsible for a ton of other skin issues. It accelerates aging, collagen depletion, discoloration of the skin, loss of elasticity, and development of deep facial wrinkles. This cellular damage to the skin can lead t carcinoma.

In summary, despite all these side effects associated with UV-A, the UV light’s intensity used in bug zappers cannot cause any of these issues. UV light from bug zappers will not harm you or your family as they are not hazardous.

Like all types of energy, the UV- A light strength decreases as the distance from the bulb increases. That is why bug zappers are placed high up in homes to catch more insects and present absolutely no harm to humans.

How to protect yourself from UV light

UV light exposure is sometimes inevitable.

Children, in particular, are vulnerable to UV radiation since their skin is much thinner than that of adults. A severe case of sunburn can cause one to go to the hospital.

Therefore, it is essential to protect oneself and children should you find yourself in an environment where UV rays are being used, like in bug zappers.

Here are some safety tips to protect yourself from UV lights;

• Wear protective clothing when exposed to UV rays. Do not put on clothes that expose most parts of your skin. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long skirts, and long pants—the darker the clothing, the better the protection from light. Also, ensure that the fabric of the clothes is dry; dry fabric offers more protection. There are usual protective clothing labeled UPF – Ultraviolet protection factor – these provide maximum protection.
• If you have to look directly at bug zappers when they are on, wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection to guard your eyes.
• Apply sunscreen liberally at least 15 minutes before going into an environment with UV light exposure. Pick a sunscreen with a sunscreen protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more. Go for a broad-spectrum sunscreen. These have been tested and proved to protect against UV-A and UV-B rays.
• Apply a lip balm of an SPF of 30 or higher to protect the sensitive skin of y our lips.
• Fabrics that are better at protecting one from UV light exposure include; wool, polyester, nylon, and silk.

Are bug zappers dangerous to humans?

Bug zappers were made for humans to be used against pesky flying insects. Their design makes them dangerous to insects and quite friendly to humans.

They are also known as electrical discharge insect control systems, electric insect killers, or electrocution traps. They have been used at home and around humans for a long time. Many people have wondered whether they pose any danger to humans too, read on to find out.

First, let us look at the composition of bug zappers and how they work.