Can Microwaves Be Dangerous?

Common Burn Injuries

• Scalding and steam burns are the most common of the known injuries related to microwave use. Steam burns are more likely to occur when foods heated in the microwave oven are not sufficiently vented to allow release of steam into the cooking chamber. Scalding injuries can be serious, especially if the liquid is superheated. Superheating occurs when the temperature of a liquid becomes higher than its boiling point but does not boil in the microwave oven. As soon as the liquid is agitated by lifting the vessel or dropping in a teabag, the stored energy in the fluid causes a sudden explosive eruption of superheated fluid.

Microwave Radiation

• Microwave radiation is known to have a biologic effect on human tissue. For this reason, some cancerous tumors are effectively treated by cooking them with focused microwave radiation. Properly sealed microwave ovens are considered safe from the hazards of radiation exposure. Eyes are especially radiosensitive. Prolonged exposure to microwaves is known to cause cataract formation.

Pacemakers

• Early generation pacemakers were susceptible to malfunction due to pulsed microwave radio frequencies generated by a microwave oven, causing electrical interference. Advances in pacemaker shielding and batteries have made it safe for users of modern pacemakers to be around microwave ovens. If you have a pacemaker, consult your cardiologist about microwave exposure and safety.

Plastics in the Microwave

• Heating certain hard plastics causes the release of toxic chemicals, which can enter the atmosphere or migrate into food substances. Although minimum biologically harmful exposure and ingestion levels of bisphenol-A (BPA) have not yet been established, laboratory findings indicate that this chemical is potentially carcinogenic. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends the use of only BPA-free plastics in the microwave.