[Insight & Opinion] Why Ultrasonic Pest Repellers Are Bogus

Ultrasonic pest repellers that claim to drive away mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, and other pests are apparently selling like hotcakes. There are even companies boasting that they have sold 800,000 units so far. However, a court ruled last December that ultrasonic pest repellers cannot be expected to be effective. The company that opposed the court ruling recently gave up on the appeal and even issued refunds to consumers. This was thanks to a famous YouTuber named ‘Samangyeowoo’ who thoroughly exposed the truth behind these bogus ultrasonic repellers.

The flashy advertisements on online open markets claim to use ‘ultrasound’?frequencies inaudible to the human ear?to drive away pests we dislike. At first glance, this might seem appealing due to the simplistic notion that pests, like us, would dislike excessively loud noises. In fact, loud explosions or fireworks are sometimes used to scare away flocks of birds that damage crops or interfere with airplane takeoffs and landings. Manufacturers claim that ultrasonic pest repellers operate on the same principle.

However, as far back as 2003, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) banned advertising for ultrasonic pest repellers because there was clear scientific evidence that their pest control effects could not be confirmed. There is no reason to believe circumstances have changed since then. The FTC’s decision aligns with common sense. Insects have no reason to have the ability to perceive ultrasound, which is useless for their survival. The reason we cannot hear ultrasound is the same. In fact, the audible frequency range of flies and mosquitoes is much more likely to be close to the low frequencies generated by wing beats. This is also a scientifically verified fact. The manufacturers’ claim that pests dislike ultrasound they cannot even hear is an unreasonable assertion that defies common sense.

If ultrasonic pest repellers had even a slight chance of being effective, small manufacturers would have no need to struggle with advertising and promotion. Pest control for mosquitoes and similar insects is not merely a personal nuisance issue; it is the most important means of preventing infectious diseases like malaria that threaten human survival. Yet, the World Health Organization (WHO) shows no interest whatsoever. This is the clearest evidence that ultrasonic pest repellers are bogus.

False and exaggerated advertising that preys on consumers’ wallets with fake science is neither unfamiliar nor a recent phenomenon in our society. Hexagonal water, alkaline water, ionized water, hydrogen water, far-infrared rays, negative ions, and germanium have all been fake sciences that confused our society. There was even fake science claiming that the ordinary yogurt ‘Bulgari’ could eliminate the COVID-19 virus.

Allowing fake science to paralyze consumers’ rationality, threaten health and safety, and cause economic damage is a serious dereliction of duty by the government. The Fair Trade Commission must apply the Act on Labeling and Advertising more actively. The National Institute of Technology and Standards, responsible for managing industrial products, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, responsible for food safety management, must also take decisive action. The government’s inadequate certification system, which confuses consumers, must be completely overhauled. A society where unethical companies that engage in bogus false and exaggerated advertising instead file lawsuits and complaints against experts who reveal scientific facts to judicial authorities can never be considered normal.

Lee Deok-hwan, Professor Emeritus at Sogang University (Chemistry & Science Communication)