Why Microwaves Are Bad

Harmful Radiation

• A frequently mentioned microwave-related health concern is exposure to microwave oven leakage, a harmful form of radiation. However, each generation of microwaves diminishes this problem; engineers now focus on making sure the microwave door is tightly sealed. If microwave users keep their faces away from the ovens, refrain from operating the oven when empty and properly maintain their device, the risk of being exposed to radiation is negligible. People with pacemakers are especially advised to stay away from microwave ovens.

Electrical Dangers

• If microwaves are not installed correctly, or if the devices have some sort of electric short, a fire can break out. In Maryland in 2005, a woman who left her three children alone with a microwave while she stepped outside to make a call returned 15 minutes later to find her apartment ablaze. The microwave had some sort of circuit problem; luckily, the children escaped unharmed. Leaving a microwave running unattended is another major factor in causing microwave fires, as is plugging your microwave into an extension cord.

Diseases

• Microwavable foods may be a fast and easy alternative to tradition methods of cooking, but they tend to be less healthy. Additionally, if frozen, microwaveable foods -- especially those containing meat -- are cooked incorrectly, consumers risk contracting diseases like salmonella or E. coli. People often do not cook microwaveable foods long enough, falsely believing that frozen meals have been precooked and need only to be reheated. Furthermore, foods are often heated unevenly in a microwave.

Burns

• Though legislation creating safety standards for microwaves has reduced the number of microwave-caused burns, children continue to be the victims of scalding temperatures. Parents need to tell their children -- especially those under the age of five -- that they are not to touch the microwave. Burns are also common when people put tin or aluminum foil into a microwave. Always allow your food to cool for at least a minute before removing it from your device.