Can using a microwave oven lead to cancer? Here's what health experts say

Microwave ovens are very common in every household nowadays. It is easy to use, quickly bakes and reheats your favourite things, and is just the sort of kitchen appliance that every efficient homemaker would want in his/her home. However, many people believe that microwave ovens can lead to cancer . So is it true that microwave oven radiation can cause cancer?

To know about it in detail you must first understand how a microwave oven works.

Microwave ovens use low-frequency electromagnetic radiation

In these types of ovens, electricity is converted into low-frequency electromagnetic radiation or microwaves. It is a general belief that exposure to these microwaves can cause cancer. The microwaves are created by a high-powered vacuum tube or magnetron and these waves circulate inside the metal walls of the microwave oven.

These microwaves make the water molecules inside the food vibrate which ultimately leads to them heating up. A rotating plate placed inside the oven ensures that the food gets equally heated from all sides. Now about the microwave radiation affecting your body, it should be noted that as long as the doors of the oven are closed the microwaves stay inside the oven.

To ensure that the microwaves do not leak, the manufacturers have to follow certain safety standards and rules.

What if the radiation leaks from the microwave?

As a rule, only a very small amount of radiation can leak from the oven that does not go beyond 2 inches from the microwave. The radiation is around 5 milliwatts/sq.cm which is not dangerous at all. However, accidents have happened when due to some technical malfunction more radiation has leaked from the oven.

That is why health experts recommend standing away from the microwave oven when it is being used to reduce the risk of getting exposed to microwave radiation. The food cooked using microwaves does not have any radiation traces and hence is safe for consumption.

Thus, if proper precautions are taken, using microwave ovens does not cause cancer.