Microwaves: More and Less Dangerous Than You Thought

Microwaves have been a staple in modern kitchens for decades, providing a quick and convenient way to heat up food. Despite their widespread use, there are still many misconceptions about the safety and dangers of microwaves. On one hand, they have been blamed for causing cancer, altering the nutrient content of food, and emitting harmful radiation. On the other hand, they have been hailed as a safer alternative to conventional ovens, thanks to their ability to cook food evenly and quickly, reducing the risk of fire and burns.

Microwave Dangers

I remember my time at Kwantlen Polytech in BC where we were warned about the devices we were opening up that day. It was stressed quite seriously how badly it could go if we touched the wrong part of the microwave while it was operating. There is a reason these things inspire a little bit of worry in the minds of some people, because the forces they are harnessing to warm up your leftovers are formidable.

The household voltage coming out of the wall socket is 120 volts. The common microwave bumps that up to 2000 volts with a transformer and then bumps it up again to 4000 volts with a big capacitor and high voltage diode. If you’ve ever been shocked with 120 volts, you probably can imagine how serious being on the receiving end of 4000 volts could be. These volts get fired into the magnetron, which acts as a sort of resonance chamber for the electrical field, and emits the microwaves themselves from its antenna, which bounce around the cooking area, heating your food.

Just like fire is safe and useful in the fireplace, these microwaves that are emitted are safe and useful if contained. So what are the safety features that keep them contained?

Safety Features

Microwaves have a number of safety features meant to keep you from harm. They automatically shut off when the door is opened, cutting the heating immediately. They have a series of interlock switches in the door latch to blow a fuse if it ever tries to run the magnetron while the door is open. The high voltage components are secured away inside the appliance to keep them from being touched, and there are fuses that can deactivate parts of the machine if they sense it getting too hot. However, the doors can sometimes develop gaps that these safety features don’t catch.

A dramatic example I remember is from the microwave at my late grandma’s apartment. I remember seeing a pen that had a bit of a bend to it, and being told that it was too close to the microwave. If microwaves leak from the seams in the door, what’s the big deal? Well, it’s not because they are radioactive, it’s because they are for cooking. They make things hot that you don’t want getting hot. If you ever have Scott’s Appliance Services over doing something for you, ask about getting your microwave tested for leaks. You may be surprised at the results.

Microwave Radiation

So why do some people say microwaves are dangerous because they emit radiation? Well, they DO emit radiation, but at this point you need to notice the distinction between two words that sound very similar, “radiation” and “radioactive”. Radiation is emitted by anything that emits light, it’s just radiation that’s a frequency in the visible light part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Radiation that is much much higher on the electromagnetic spectrum can ionize atoms and molecules. The microwaves emitted by the magnetron are a type of non-ionizing radiation, meaning they do not have enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules and cause damage to the DNA.

It’s like saying, “Opera singers can break glasses with their voice, so try not to talk too loudly around the glassware.” It ignores the fact that it is the great power and high frequency of the note being sung that makes it dangerous to glass, not the fact that they are simply soundwaves.

The energy emitted by microwaves is not strong enough to penetrate deep into the body and cause harm. In fact, microwaves are considered safer than other forms of non-ionizing radiation, such as radiofrequency radiation from cell phones and Wi-Fi. However, it is important to follow safety guidelines when using a microwave, such as avoiding the use of plastic containers and not microwaving food in metal containers, to prevent potential health risks.

Conclusion

In short, microwaves are both more dangerous and less dangerous than you may have thought. Anything that puts 4000 volts to productive use safely deserves our respect, but the radiation emitted in the form of microwaves is not “ionizing”, meaning radioactive. The seals around the door are important largely because you don’t want it leaking while you’re cooking, like you wouldn’t want the outside of your oven getting as hot as it is inside. So if you think of it, ask us to check your microwave seals and enjoy using them guilt-free!