Microwave Ovens, Are They Safe?

[Kushin]

Just now, Me and my dad had an argument because I said that standing 30 centimetres (approx) away from the microwave while it is working won't do anything.

I know about the fact that microwave ovens use non-ionising radiation and the usual FDA standard of 5mw/cm^2.

His basis is on the fact his friend got a Geiger-Muller counter and ran it around a microwave oven while it was working and he could hear the clicks.

Can The Escapist give me a definitive answer? Even your opinion is valuable, many thanks.

 

[Julianking93]

Its been pretty much proven that standing near a microwave won't kill you.

Its just one of those dumbass old wives tales like sitting too close to the TV or catching a cold when its cold.

 

[Tattaglia]

It won't hurt you in any way. Unless you get one dropped on your face. Then... yeah.

Isn't background radiation everywhere though? It's like, 0.20 thingamajiggies in a normal city or something. Could explain them Geiger clicks. Maybe. I don't know. Science-y type persons, help?

 

[Daniel Cygnus]

I'm pretty sure there's nothing to worry about. If there was, we'd have heard of it by now.

Also, the microwave at home messes up my lappy's wireless. Imagine playing Left 4 Dead at the finale. Suddenly, my mom decides to warm up some food. My lag suddenly jumps up to 9999, and the AI takes over and gets me killed. I screamed audibly. Anyone know what could have caused it?

 

[Plurralbles]

not for babies or small animals, but yes, they are safe.

 

[malestrithe]

If you need a pacemaker, it is not safe to be around microwaves. For the rest of us, it is alright to be around.

 

[Saul B]

Yes. The radiation (what tiny amount of it there is) is un-ionizing (I think) and so cannot cause tumors or modify tissue. (Even if it can, the risk is veeery low, much like radio signals) as the wavelengths are much bigger than say, gamma radiation.

 

[Guy32]

Did you see "The Last House on the Left"?


JK,
Anyway- No, not at all.

 

[kibayasu]

A Geiger counter will click everywhere.

Everywhere.

 

[j0frenzy]

There are specific moments when being near a microwave is not safe, but most of the time its harmless. Times when it is not safe include having a pacemaker and the microwave not being sealed (say having a hole in the side or something like that).

 

[Lukeje]

...the hell? Why would a Geiger-Müller tube pick up microwave radiation?

...and if I remember correctly, it is recommended that you not stand within a metre of a microwave while it is operating.

Edit: and no, technically they are not safe; but not for the reason you would think. Because of the way it cooks food, it is easy to overheat things with a lot of water to temperatures that will cause burns. 'Tis why microwavable food always says to wait 1min before consumption.

 

[sam_savage1393]

Watch the Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This? series on Youtube.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

I think so, they aren't very aerodynamic, so you couldn't get much momentum...

Oh, never mind.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

It depends what you've put in the microwave.

A piece of old pizza? You'll be fine.

A Hulk Hogan action figure? He'll start break dancing furiously and wreck it. And his spring loaded bear hug grip won't work afterwards either.

 

[Kushin]

Did you see "The Last House on the Left"?


JK,
Anyway- No, not at all.

No, I didn't. Used Wiki, sounds brutally awesome.

Watch the Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This? series on Youtube.

Have done; very entertaining stuff if a bit immature (not a bad thing)

 

[flaming_squirrel]

If they were even vaguely dangerous then they'd have been dragged off the shelves faster then you can say 'lawsuit'.

Watch the Is It A Good Idea To Microwave This? series on Youtube.

Some of the results they got were really interesting! Especially Pikachu and the airbag.

 

[Skuffyshootster]

Why don't you ask the arm growing out of my Stouffers lasagna?

 

[Wolfram23]

a geiger counter cannot pick up microwaves it's used for other types of radiation. also, microwaves cannot pass through the microwave itself, or the little screen mesh over the glass (the holes are sized appropriately for this reason)

microwaves are safe to be around.

even if (and it's a big if) some microwaves were spilling out, their nature is such that it excites water molecules, so you may feel like you're burning... but it won't produce tumors or make your skin rot off.

 

[Anacortian]

A microwave heats by light with the resonant frequency of water. Since most everything we eat has water, if you heat the water you heat the food. Try putting something in the microwave that has no water (don't) and see how well it heats-up.

The casing of a microwave oven blocks any of these high-frequency light waves, so standing next to one does nothing. It is quite dangerous to be exposed to these microwaves (being inside the oven) as that they will heat the water in your body.

In short, standing outside a running microwave oven poses the same danger as standing under a reading lamp for exactly the same reason.

 

[Croaker42]

A Geiger counter will click everywhere.

Everywhere.

More so in Nevada.

But yeah your dads friend needs to take his toy outside more. He would be surprised by what he finds.