Do microwave ovens cause cancer?

[Jazzy]

No. There is no scientific or documented evidence to support the idea that ordinary microwave ovens cause food to become radioactive or cause cancer.

American Cancer Society: Radiation Exposure and Cancer:

ACS :: Radiation Exposure and Cancer

"Microwaves: Microwaves have energy levels similar to radio waves and infrared waves but are of a different frequency. Microwave radiation is used not only in microwave ovens, but also in navigational technology such as radar.

Many materials absorb microwave energy, causing them to become hot. This is how food is cooked in microwave ovens. Microwaves do not make food radioactive. When microwave ovens are used according to instructions, there is no evidence that they pose a risk of radiation exposure to people.

Exposure to high levels of microwaves can have effects on health. Such exposure can lead to a painful burn or to the development of cataracts in the lenses of the eyes. Because the testes are very sensitive to changes in temperature, exposure to high levels of microwaves can alter or kill sperm. These injuries are caused only by exposure to large amounts of microwave radiation, however, and the small amount that can leak from a microwave oven does not cause these problems.

Some pacemakers can be affected if the person with the pacemaker gets too close to a microwave oven while it is on. This can happen with other kinds of electronic equipment as well."

[Odie]

Originally Posted by spot

Those are what are known as broken leaky microwave ovens. Bryn's talking about correctly working microwave ovens. Broken leaky microwave ovens are a health hazard, they can cook the cook. That's why there's warnings about broken leaky microwave ovens.

Cellphones use the same microwaves and don't shield them at all. What cellphones do is to reduce the power they put out to a small enough level that it can't heat the person using the phone enough to damage them.

Cell Phones / Mobile Phones, Cancers and Brain tumors - What Is The Truth? discusses whether those microwaves have been found to cause cancer.

I know as ours was very old at work, our employer came up to all the woman.

[K.Snyder]

Originally Posted by mikeinie

I don’t think so, but having said that, I do not put my face up close to it to watch the popcorn pop if you know what I mean.

I use it regularly, but don’t stand very close to it when it is operating.

Yes but if you stand too far away then you run the risk of burning your popcorn ultimately choking everyone in the household to death during the event the smoke makes their eyeballs feel like they're popping out of their freakin skulls!

[Odie]

Originally Posted by Jazzy

No. There is no scientific or documented evidence to support the idea that ordinary microwave ovens cause food to become radioactive or cause cancer.

American Cancer Society: Radiation Exposure and Cancer:

ACS :: Radiation Exposure and Cancer

"Microwaves: Microwaves have energy levels similar to radio waves and infrared waves but are of a different frequency. Microwave radiation is used not only in microwave ovens, but also in navigational technology such as radar.

Many materials absorb microwave energy, causing them to become hot. This is how food is cooked in microwave ovens. Microwaves do not make food radioactive. When microwave ovens are used according to instructions, there is no evidence that they pose a risk of radiation exposure to people.

Exposure to high levels of microwaves can have effects on health. Such exposure can lead to a painful burn or to the development of cataracts in the lenses of the eyes. Because the testes are very sensitive to changes in temperature, exposure to high levels of microwaves can alter or kill sperm. These injuries are caused only by exposure to large amounts of microwave radiation, however, and the small amount that can leak from a microwave oven does not cause these problems.

Some pacemakers can be affected if the person with the pacemaker gets too close to a microwave oven while it is on. This can happen with other kinds of electronic equipment as well."

great article, thanks Jazzy!