People have always been dubious about the safety ofmicrowave ovens.
Common knowledge would have you believe you should always be concerned for your safety around even working microwave ovens.
Many still stray from them today, fearful that microwave ovens are leaching radiation into us and our food.
Photo: TommyStockProject (Shutterstock)
Im probably fine, according to Robert Dellavalle, the principal engineer for cooking appliances with UL Solutions.
Hes been testing the safety of appliances with UL for 40 years.
Even with a seriously malfunctioning microwave oven, theres minimal risk of any human injury.
If your microwave is operating with the door open, thats definitely an unsafe condition, said Dellavalle.
However, as you step away from the microwave oven, those radiation levels decrease exponentially.
In an extreme but unlikely scenario, he says the microwave radiation could affect your eyes.
You would not get cooked, Dellavalle said regarding if you were exposed to low doses of microwaves.
But it does have an effect.
Dellavalle also notes that people have misconceptions about the radiation involved in microwaves.
The glass door is equipped with a metal mesh screen that blocks microwaves.
But as evidenced by the aforementioned microwave oven, these interlocks can break down over time.
While microwave ovens are rigorously tested, radiation leaks can happen as the machine gets older.
Youre usually doing something else anyways, its an unattended appliance, Dellavalle said.
If youre a couple of feet from the oven, its usually safe.
Origins of the Myth
Microwaves have incited fear and conspiracy since their very inception.
Their radiation leakage could not exceed 5 milliwatts, far lower than whats considered dangerous to humans.
The technology has become increasingly safe, but the fears from the 1970s persist today.
The reason for this is that microwaves feel more unnatural than any other cooking instrument in our kitchen.
Our ancestors never used microwaves, so theyre an easy scapegoat for many of our modern problems.
Theres more evidence around other concerns with microwaves.
Microwaves also get grouped in with fears around other types of radiation.
But theres no clear evidence to say so.
Its not ridiculous to be cautious, but you probably dont need to be so worried about microwaves.
If your microwave is still running with the door open, you should probably toss it.
Otherwise, just stand a few feet back and youll be fine.
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