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Microwave Radiation: Are you in Danger?

Are microwave ovens dangerous? Scientists know that microwave radiation can be deadly. The question, though, is whether microwave ovens emit enough microwave radiation leakage to pose a danger.

First, let's talk about exactly what microwave radiation is. Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic radiation which is at frequencies and wavelengths on the lower end of the electromagnetic spectrum. In nature, it is found throughout the universe, in the form of cosmic microwave background radiation. It was actually the measurements of this type of radiation in experiments that lead to the big bang theory.

Of course, most of us are more familiar with the microwave energy generated as we cook food in our home microwave ovens. The United States government restricts microwave ovens to an emission level of less than 5 mw/cm^2. Research from the Soviet Union, however, has shown that levels as low as 1 mw/cm^2 can have a detrimental effect on human health. As a direct result of this Soviet research, some appliance makers have lowered their acceptable tolerances for microwave radiation leakage out of microwave ovens to 4 mw/cm^2. The question remains, though: Is this level safe when we are exposed to it every day over the course of our lifetimes?

So the next most important question in answering that, then, is "What are safe levels of exposure?"

No one is entirely certain, although research in the US has shown that chronic exposure to extremely low levels can actually result in cataracts in the human eye. There is some evidence also, although it is not conclusive, that microwave radiation can lead to cancer. But is the exposure that most people get on a daily basis from Microwave ovens enough to lead to a biological hazard? One of the problems with most of the current research is that the research is being conducted on animals. But it's difficult to simulate with animals the type of exposure that people normally get when they cook food. Regardless, the US government has, in recent years, recommended that people limit their exposure to any microwave radiation that is not necessary. (Is it ever strictly necessary to cook our food in a microwave? Can't we just use the stove?)

One thing that is known is that microwave radiation dissipates very rapidly in the air. Measurements of microwave energy leakage from ovens are taken at a distance of 2 inches away from the oven. So the 5 mw/cm^2 that I referenced before is measured at that distance. Most people don't stand that close, though, to the oven as they cook food. If you stand a couple of feet away, the exposure drops to less than .05 mw/cm^2, which is not much more than the level of cosmic microwave background radiation that permeates the universe. So, even if we are exposed over an entire lifetime, is this level dangerous?

Some research indicates that the answer is still "Maybe". As I said previously, here, the Soviet government has done experiments that have yielded surprising results. Unlike the US based research, the Soviets actually looked at long term exposure to very low levels of microwave frequencies. The research showed that levels as low as 1 mw/cm^2 can have health effects over time.

As a result of these findings, a common sense approach to microwave radiation is warranted:

1)Remain at least 20 inches away from a microwave oven when it is in use.
2)Never run your microwave when it is empty.
3)If the door on your microwave oven will not close properly, do not use the oven under any circumstances.
4)Never tamper with the safety interlock switches or the fuse

About the Author

Click here to learn more about Microwave Radiation or visit us at http://MicrowaveRadiation.Org.

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