Safely Using Your Microwave Oven

Volume 4 Issue 40

March 2005

Microwave ovens help in our daily needs and are an aide to those with busy schedules.  However a clear perception of how microwave ovens heat meals so quickly, shows that there can be some harm associated with their use than convenience.  Certain cautions can be used to decrease the dangers in using microwave ovens.

A case in 1991 where a surgical patient in Oklahoma, received blood heated in a microwave oven and subsequently died from it can help to illustrate the dangers of using microwave ovens. 

Blood transfusions are common, but blood is warmed with more natural means such as Bunsen burners, rather than with radiation as it is in a microwave oven.  This was clear evidence that microwave heating does more than just heat.

Microwave ovens work by using electromagnetic waves in an alternating current.  An alternating current, in simplified words, is a wave that moves back and forth, where as a direct current moves forward in a direction.  The AC current causes a high amount of friction between the food molecules.  The friction makes heat.  Foods are cooked and heated with this heat, but the high amount of friction damages food cells.  Vitamins and proteins are often destroyed.  Most baby milks are especially harmed in heating with a microwave.  The infant formula milk loses some vitamins.  The energy in the food is reduced.  Some molecules turn into carcinogens, increasing the chance of cancer.

Increased chance of cancer is a major harm caused by microwaved foods.  These foods can increase cancer cell formation and decrease ability to prevent cancer.  The most likely type of cancers are stomach and intestinal.

In studies where volunteers ate a controlled amount of microwaved food and their blood samples were later tested, blood disorders were found.  The blood samples showed a decreased hemoglobin and lymphocytes and increased cholesterol and white blood cells.  These are almost unavoidable dangers of microwave cooking. 

There are others, that can be avoided with simple cautions.

Do not make assumptions about the temperature of substances inside containers.  In a microwave oven,  although the baby bottle remains relatively cool from the outside, the water inside reaches a higher temperature.  The water can burn a baby’s soft tissues.  It is safer to directly contact the water and feel its warmth before giving it to the baby rather than estimating the hotness from the bottle's outside surface.

Secondly, avoid heating just water.  Microwaves can heat water faster than vapor bubbles can form.  When water is heated over a Bunsen burner, vapor bubbles form at the bottom of water surface, rise to the top, and pop releasing heat energy.  When the water is heated faster than these bubbles can form, heat remains trapped in the water and the top layer of the water remains cooler. When the container is taken out, a slight shifting can cause the water to explode.  If it splashes on human skin, sever burns can result.  It is thus advisable to not heat water alone if it’s being heated to relative hotness.  A stirrer or tea bag in the water will absorb heat and prevent a sudden splashing of hot water.

Although most microwave ovens do not leak there are several things to be cautious about when using microwave ovens.  Currents are immediately discontinued when the door opens and when the door is closed they are sealed.  After a period of usage, usually about two years, microwaves can start leaking because of wear and tear.  Leaking waves are very harmful to the human body.   Studies have been performed on effects of leaking microwaves.  Microwave leakage can cause many disorders which include cataracts, dizziness, headaches, blood disorders, birth defects in pregnant women, and central nervous system damage.  The latter ones can have long lasting and very serious effects.  The best way to avoid these is reduce wear and tear on your microwave, do not slam the door, and do not use very old microwaves.

The most effective safety measure is to limit the use of a microwave ovens.

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