Are Microwave Ovens Bad for You?

Microwave Radiation

• Microwave radiation is electromagnetic radiation, which is the same radiation you get when you have X-rays. But in the case of microwaves, the radiation is much less powerful. Microwaves are absorbed by the food in the microwave oven; they are reflected by the metal encasing the oven, and they pass through glass, paper and plastic.

How Microwaves Heat Food

• When food absorbs the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a microwave oven, water molecules in the food vibrate, which produces heat. The food absorbs that heat and warms up. The radiation emitted by the microwave is changed to heat, so the food does not contain "radioactive" material.

Possible Harmful Effects

• High levels of microwaves (as distinguished from microwave ovens) can cause burns, cataracts or temporary sterility. But for any of these harms to occur, your exposure would have to be much higher than the federal standard of 5 milliwatts of leakage over the lifetime of the microwave oven. Little is known about the effects on humans of exposure to low levels of microwave energy.

Injuries

• The injuries that have been reported related to microwave ovens were not caused by exposure to microwaves. They have been burns from hot food, splattering grease or steam. Take care not to touch containers or food that has been in the microwave oven until you know how hot the items are.

Safety Precautions

• If you are worried about the safety of microwaves, take some commonsense precautions. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Do not operate a microwave oven if the door has been damaged in any way. Do not stand directly against a microwave oven when it is operating. Do not put metal in a microwave oven. Be especially careful when heating water or liquids. Liquids can become superheated (heated past their boiling point) but not appear to be boiling until you put something in them, such as sugar, or pick them up when the liquid erupts and splashes, causing burns.