Microwave ovens emit radiation, but it is not dangerous to humans in the amounts produced. The radiation is at a wavelength that heats water molecules, making it safe to use. Leakage is normal and not a cause for concern, but burns are a danger. Pacemakers used to be affected by microwave leakage, but this has been corrected. More research is needed to determine safe levels of microwave radiation.
The microwave oven has certainly been the most controversial of all cooking-related inventions. Much of the concern surrounding microwave safety relates to the amount of radiation emitted by one. The word “radiation” is loaded with all sorts of connotations for us, who live as we do in the age of nuclear energy. A microwave oven produces radiation when it is in operation, but it is important to define what radiation is and what dangers it poses to humans, if any.
Scientifically speaking, radiation consists of any wave that is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Visible light, radio and television signals, and the infrared rays used by remote controls are all forms of radiation. We are constantly surrounded by all kinds of radiation to some extent. As most people know, some forms of radiation, such as X-rays, can be dangerous or even fatal in large enough quantities. The radiation used by microwave ovens has a very long wavelength, so it is not visible to our eyes. However, it’s at just the right wavelength to excite the water molecules, heating them, and this in turn heats up whatever food is in the microwave.
The vast majority of microwave radiation produced by microwave ovens is contained within the oven itself while it is in operation. A small amount may leak, this is normal and not a cause for concern. Any effects or hazards presented by microwave ovens are quite minor compared to more dangerous types of energy such as gamma rays and x-rays. The main result of exposing an object to microwaves is that it will get heated. Therefore, burns are the main danger presented by microwaves, as is the case with anything else that uses heat to cook food.
It used to be the case that small amounts of microwave leakage could interfere with heart pacemakers if someone with a pacemaker stayed too close to a microwave oven for too long. The designers of pacemakers and the batteries they use have since corrected most of these problems, although there’s no guarantee that a malfunctioning microwave won’t pose some form of danger. While most microwaves are completely safe to use, more research is needed to determine what constitutes a safe level of microwave radiation. This could take some time, as it is difficult to study what the effects of very low levels of radiation are over a person’s lifetime.
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