Microwave Safety Issues?

Dwight said:

I have heaard that there have been revised assessments to the effect that the danger of oven
radiation - or whatever it is - is greater than previously believed.

Microwave radiation, in general, is fatal. We've known this for years.

Quoted message said:

1. Does a grounding screen in the window of the device offer sufficient protection?

Are you able to stand in front of a microwave oven without exploding?

Quoted message said:

2. Are newer ovens safer than earlier ones (I have a Sharp Carousel II about 15 years old).

Probably, but only because I hear secondhand that some older models had flaky safety mechanisms.
Fifteen years should be safe though.

Quoted message said:

3. Is it true that one should not leave the door open after using the oven.

Doesn't matter in terms of safety. The light bulb will wear out faster the more you use it though.

Quoted message said:

4. Are there good web sites for information?

Go to a college bookstore and pick up a physics textbook.

--
John Gaughan
johngaughan.netjohngaughan.netOpen ↗
[email hidden]

Dwight <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I have heaard that there have been revised assessments to the effect that the danger of oven
radiation - or whatever it is - is greater than previously believed.

1. Does a grounding screen in the window of the device offer sufficient protection?

2. Are newer ovens safer than earlier ones (I have a Sharp Carousel II about 15 years old).

3. Is it true that one should not leave the door open after using the oven.

4. Are there good web sites for information?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Go here for information from the FDA:

fda.govmicrowave.htmlOpen ↗

This should answer all your questions

In article <[email hidden]>, Dwight

Quoted message said:

I have heaard that there have been revised assessments to the effect that the danger of oven
radiation - or whatever it is - is greater than previously believed.

[snip]

Quoted message said:

4. Are there good web sites for information?

I've found the links at the bottom of this site to be helpful:

home.howstuffworks.commicrowave.htmOpen ↗

I don't remember if they talk about safety, but they cover a lot of ground.

--
Dan Abel Sonoma State University AIS [email hidden]

Dwight said:

I have heaard that there have been revised assessments to the effect that the danger of oven
radiation - or whatever it is - is greater than previously believed.

Where did you hear this? I suspect its just another urban legend. Can you provide any cites?

Quoted message said:

1. Does a grounding screen in the window of the device offer sufficient protection?

I have no idea. Contact the manufacturer of your microwave oven if you're really curious about this
question. I don't even know what a "grounding screen" is.

Quoted message said:

2. Are newer ovens safer than earlier ones (I have a Sharp Carousel II about 15 years old).

Probably, but I doubt the old microwave ovens are dangerous either.

Quoted message said:

3. Is it true that one should not leave the door open after using the oven.

I never heard that. How do you get the food out if you can't open the door? I don't leave my
microwave oven's door open if I am not putting food into the microwave oven or removing it simply
because I do not want to wear out the light bulb that's in there unnecessarily.

Quoted message said:

4. Are there good web sites for information?

Beats me. Try doing a Google search for "microwave oven safety" or some such similar term.

Hi,

Quoted message said:

I have heaard that there have been revised assessments to the effect that the danger of oven
radiation - or whatever it is - is greater than previously believed.

Who says so? It is high dose rates you should look out for and these are not to be found around
microwave ovens. If you are worried, don't stand in front of it.

Quoted message said:

1. Does a grounding screen in the window of the device offer sufficient protection?

Yes it does! Radiation of the wavelength used (~12cm) cannot pass through a screen with such
small holes. Problems can arise round the edges of the door though. These usually have a
radiation trap called a 'choke' and a seal containing material that absorbs radiation. If you
want to waste money, there are detectors on the market which can give you some estimate of
the leakage there. As a routine it does no harm to gently wipe the area to prevent a build-up
of detritus.

Quoted message said:

2. Are newer ovens safer than earlier ones (I have a Sharp Carousel II about 15 years old).

Don't know but expect not, though probably the interlocks are better. Why
not use this as a perfectly good excuse to buy yourself a nice new machine.

Quoted message said:

3. Is it true that one should not leave the door open after using the oven.

Only if you don't want the cat to crawl in there.

Don't listen to these urban myths/radiation scare stories. Remember the papers have to print
something and the lawyers and 'experts' make their living that way. I've spent all my working
life in radar, communications and medical X-rays, and all I've ever suffered from is a bad back,
and a sagging midriff, and some hair loss, and my eyesight isn't what it used to be, and I no
longer have a full set of teeth. But I'm alright really :-)

Cheers - Joe

While frolicking around in rec.food.cooking, Tashi_Aunt of

url='http://groups.google.com/'http://groups.google.com/url said:

Go here for information from the FDA:

fda.govmicrowave.htmlOpen ↗

This should answer all your questions

Thank you. That was very interesting and helpful.
--
Nikitta a.a. #1759 Apatriot(No, not apricot)#18 ICQ# 251532856 Unreferenced footnotes: nut.house.cxcgiOpen ↗
bin/nemwiki.pl?ISFN "You can tell if someone is a doctor. Their handwriting is very messy and
illegible and they know stuff. Medical stuff." John Coxon (afdaiain)

Quoted message said:

I don't even know what a "grounding screen" is.

I think it is that mesh that goes inside the glass. Microwaves pass right through glass, but you
need to be able to see in. But I could be wrong, this is just an educated guess.

--
John Gaughan
johngaughan.netjohngaughan.netOpen ↗
[email hidden]

While frolicking around in rec.food.cooking, Nancree of AOL

url='http://www.aol.com/'http://www.aol.com/url said:

how things work.com

for info on Microwaves and many other things. Great Website.

I typed it in, but it send me to howstuffworks.comhowstuffworks.comOpen ↗. It seems to be the site you meant,
though. Thank you very much!
--
Nikitta a.a. #1759 Apatriot(No, not apricot)#18 ICQ# 251532856 Unreferenced footnotes: nut.house.cxcgiOpen ↗
bin/nemwiki.pl?ISFN "You can tell if someone is a doctor. Their handwriting is very messy and
illegible and they know stuff. Medical stuff." John Coxon (afdaiain)

Dwight saw Sally selling seashells by the seashore and told us all
about it on Thu, 15 Jan 2004 23:58:52 GMT:

Quoted message said:

I have heaard that there have been revised assessments to the effect that the danger of oven
radiation - or whatever it is - is greater than previously believed.

1. Does a grounding screen in the window of the device offer sufficient protection?

2. Are newer ovens safer than earlier ones (I have a Sharp Carousel II about 15 years old).

3. Is it true that one should not leave the door open after using the oven.

I can think of one reason to not leave the microwave door open - if the door seal is damaged or the
door is warped then the microwave might not be safe. If the door is closed nobody's going to lean on
it or pull on it...