What's RF
- About Microwave Ovens
Are microwave ovens safe?
Microwave ovens used in homes generate large amounts
of microwave energy (500 to 1000 watts) at a
frequency of 2,450 MHz. There are some ovens that operates at 915 MHz but
these are rare and mostly in industrial facilities. This amount of microwave
energy is so large that it will boil water, cook hamburger and set some
materials on fire. So it is obvious that being inside the oven is not
safe, but what about the outside?
Editors Note:
No one on earth today can say for sure any level of microwave radiation
exposure is safe for sure!
The maximum microwave radiation leakage permitted by
the Radiation Emitting Devices regulations for microwave ovens operated with
a load, is 1.0 milliwatts per square centimeter measured at 5 cm from any
external surface of the oven. This level of microwave power density is about
1,000 times less than what is present on the other side of the door and is
not harmful. Microwaves can not penetrate metal and are contained inside the
oven because they are always enclosed by metal. The oven is a metal
container. The walls inside of the oven are usually plastic but behind the
plastic there is metal. If you look carefully at the plastic viewing window
you will see that it has a metal mesh or screen. This screen is enough
material to keep most of the microwaves inside the oven. To stop leakage of
microwaves between the door and the door frame, the frame or the door is
fitted with quarter wavelength choke. Unless your microwave is physically
altered or damaged it will not leak more microwave energy than it did when
it was new.
Safety Advice?
- Do not operate an oven that is damaged or suspected
of being physically damaged.
- If any damage to the door, hinges or door seals
occurs have the oven tested for leakage.
- Look for holes inside the oven and on the door and
door frame that look like they might have been created by electrical
arcing.
What about cardiac pacemakers?
Implanted pacemakers are not easily susceptible to
interference from microwave ovens. They have shielded circuitry, highly
selective filters and the ability to recognize and reject interference and
continue to operate. Tests have demonstrated that a normally functioning
microwave oven will not affect an implanted pacemaker.
The Ministry of Health Services does not recommend the
posting of warning signs near microwave ovens to alert persons with
pacemakers.
What materials are safe to use in a microwave oven?
All containers and materials that are identified by
the manufacturer as safe to use in a microwave oven are suitable to use in
the oven. This identifying information may be on the packaging or on the
material itself. If a container does not specifically state that it is
microwave safe it still may be useable in the oven. To test the
material, place it in the oven along with a cup of cool water and operate
the oven on high for 1 minute. If the container is lukewarm or cool it is
safe to use. If the container is warm or hot it is not safe to use.
In general suitable materials tend to be made of
plastic, glass, china cookware, plastic dinnerware, etc. Do not use dishes
with metallic rims or cookware with metal parts and avoid using twist-ties.
Although aluminum foil is a metal it may sometimes be used safely but only
when used as directed by the microwave cookbook or microwave oven
instruction book. If recycled plastic containers do not state that
they are microwave safe do not use them. Some plastics when heated
release plastic components which may migrate into the food. Remember that
plastic containers that are not heated by microwave energy can still be
heated from being in contact with the food that is being heated.
7The
Hidden Hazards Of Microwave Cooking
Recent research shows that microwave oven-cooked food
suffers severe molecular damage. When eaten, it causes abnormal changes in
human blood and immune systems. Not surprisingly, the public has been denied
details on these significant health dangers.
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