Is it Safe to Stand in Front of a Microwave?

Microwave Heating

• At the heart of the microwave oven is an instrument known as a magnetron tube. This tube produces the microwaves that react with the molecules in the food---actually speeding them up---which ultimately results in heated food. While microwaves harmlessly pass through many common food containers, including paper, glass, china and most plastics, metal reflects microwaves. This is why you can't use a metal container or tinfoil in a microwave.

Effects on People

• Exposure to high levels of microwave energy can actually burn human skin. Eyes are especially sensitive to microwaves, and significant microwave exposure can result in cataracts. Testes also can be damaged by being exposed to high levels of microwave energy, resulting in temporary sterility. These effects are only seen when a person is exposed to very high level of microwave energy---such as could be found in specialized workplace environments. Properly functioning everyday equipment (like microwave ovens, cell phones and police traffic radars) would not cause any of these problems over the short term. However, the long term effects of low levels of microwave radiation on the human body have not been studied.

FDA Regulations

• Because of the potential side effects of microwave exposure, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has imposed a strict limit to the amount of radiation that a microwave oven can leak during its lifetime. This limit is set at 5 milliwatts per square centimeter at roughly two inches away from the oven. This amount of radiation is not harmful to humans or house pets, even if a great deal of time is spent watching food heat up through the microwave door. In addition to the radiation limit, the FDA also requires that every microwave is lined with metal mesh to prevent microwaves from escaping. According to the FDA, microwaves do not present any radiation hazard, so it is hypothetically safe to stand in front of a microwave oven. But, because of the lack of research about long-term effects of low levels of microwave radiation, the FDA recommends taking certain common sense precautions. One of which, according to Gallawa.com, is standing at least an arm's length away from the front of a microwave.

Pacemakers

• Leaked microwaves can hypothetically interfere with the functioning of an electronic cardiac pacemaker. The FDA does not, however, require microwave ovens to display a pacemaker warning. This is largely because of the fact that modern pacemakers are designed with a special shield that protects them from electromagnetic interference.