![]() ![]() However, the takeaway is that if you do want to use a bug zapper, don’t place it in the area where you are sitting. Whether or not this is effective seems to be an unsettled topic of debate. The device manufacturers recommend placing them 30 feet away from the sitting area to attract bugs away from you. They concluded that after 11 days, the devices ultimately failed to reduce the localized populations of biting insects, contrary to the manufacturer’s claims.Ī bug zapper in your yard could indirectly put your family at risk by attracting more of the annoying and disease-carrying mosquitoes you are trying to get rid of. They found that people sitting in the yards with the bug zappers were more attractive to mosquitoes than the yards without them. In 1982, a study compared backyards in Indiana with and without electric bug zappers. The Attraction of More Insectsīecause the UV lights used in bug zappers attract insects, there will be more in an area that uses one than one that does not. Let us go more in-depth on each one below: 1. Exposure to airborne microbes and pathogens.The attraction of more insects to the area.If neither the zappers’ light nor the electric killing grid is directly dangerous to humans, what are the health risks of such devices? There are several indirect health risks associated with bug zappers, including: Are There Any Health Risks of Bug Zappers? Bug zappers utilize only about two amps to give you a painful shock but not enough to cause any injury. While 3,000 to 4,000 volts sounds like a lot (the outlets in your home carry only about 120 volts), the Amps kill you. ![]() There are no known cases of severe injury or death from bug zappers. So, if the light is safe, what about the electric grid? Will my kids be injured if they contact it?Įven if you were to contact the killing grid, the short pulse of electricity you would feel would not seriously harm you. What Happens if You Touch an Electric Bug Zapper? Because the light attracts insects, standing close to it would mean they are attracted to you. So, even if you stare at the lights in residential bug zappers, it will not harm you or your family.įurthermore, exposure should be lower than in the experiments above, as you don’t want to stand near the light. The study determined that the exposure to light radiation from the units was only a fraction of what we experience daily and was safe. A 2016 study replicated extreme exposure scenarios, such as being close to the unit for long periods, and found no health effects of concern. ![]() These lights have been around for over 75 years and are generally considered safe. Are Bug Zapper Lights Dangerous?Īs discussed above, bug zappers use black light in the near-ultraviolet spectrum to attract insects. However, most of the risks are not directly from the zappers’ operation, as we will explore below. While much safer than the chemicals that cause cancers and chronic diseases, bug zappers are not without risks. The electrified grid effectively kills insects in commercial and residential settings, but can they also harm us? Are Bug Zappers Harmful to Humans?īug zappers are a non-toxic alternative to pesticides and other chemical insect control measures, proven dangerous to human health. However, because of how big the charge is, it essentially explodes the insects who contact it. The bug zapper is typically enclosed in an outer, non-electrified grid to protect humans. While the light attracts insects, the electric grid surrounding them does most of the work. This ‘killing grid’ is charged with 3000 to 4000 volts. Insects are naturally attracted to both near-UV and yellow light at night, which is why many insect traps utilize them. Residential insect traps use near-ultraviolet or UV-A light in the spectrum from 325-400 nm, also called black light. While some stories implicating bug zappers have been in the news, there is little to worry about. So, when some consumers hear that the bug zappers use UV light to attract insects, they fear it will have the same effects. We all know UV light can be dangerous for our skin and eyes, which is why we wear sunglasses and sunscreen at the beach. To understand the direct health risks, we need to understand these components in more detail. The units use a UV light to attract the insects through an electrified grid that zaps them. There are several styles of bug zappers on the market, but the most popular ones all share the same basic design. Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Do bug zappers really work? () ![]()
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