Is microwave oven harmful to human health?

A microwave oven is a convenient and compact device, thanks to which we can easily and quickly heat up food, and also cook food even without the use of oil.

For some reason, people have always been wary of all innovations, and from the moment of its appearance, the microwave oven was surrounded by speculation about harm to human health. Next, we will figure out whether the negative impact of our kitchen assistant on the body is really dangerous.

Myths and fiction around the microwave oven

There are 3 common myths about the harm from microwaves:

• Myth one. High radioactivity. Indeed, the device emits energy - electromagnetic waves at ultrafrequencies. But a minimal amount of radiation passes through the body of working household appliances and is not capable of harming a person.
• Myth two. Changes in the structure of products and food quality for the worse. The reality is that scientists have not yet found evidence that under the influence of waves, food is saturated with carcinogens. But when heating food with oil in a frying pan, on the contrary, there are many confirmed arguments about the production of carcinogenic products.
• Myth three. Loss of nutrients from food.When heated, molecules begin to move at a very high frequency due to electromagnetic vibrations. Thanks to accelerated energy transfer, heat treatment occurs at maximum speed. There are no significant changes in the products themselves and cannot be.

Reference: In a microwave oven, heating occurs much faster, which means less nutrients are lost.

Expert opinion: “You can heat it up!”

Oleg Dronitsky, director of the TEST-BET testing center, responded to the question: is a microwave oven harmful to human health with humor? He joked that this device is very dangerous if you stick your hand into it. And he immediately made a reservation that it would not be possible to get burned even in such an absurd case - modern equipment is equipped with child locking protection even when the electrical appliance is turned off.

Oleg Dronitsky explains that food cooked or heated in a microwave is no different in terms of the level of harmful substances from food from a regular frying pan or pot. Wave radiation is really harmful to the body, although if a person stands for 8 hours at a distance of 5 cm from the microwave. And then, harmful microwaves have only a partial effect.

On a note: According to current sanitary standards in Russia, the density of emitted energy should not exceed 10 μW per 1 sq. cm at a distance of 50 cm from the microwave when heating 1 liter of water. All manufactured models fully comply with the required requirements with a large margin.

The opinions of scientists are divided - some trumpet the unacceptability of using microwaves, others, on the contrary, about its exceptional benefits. For example, American researchers believe that thanks to the gentle method of cooking without oil, the percentage of cancer cases in the United States has decreased.

Conversely, in Sweden, biologist Hertel and Professor Bernard Blank tried to prove an increase in white blood cells through the use of microwaves. But their experience was incompetent, since due to the lack of money for research, scientists limited themselves to only one experimental subject.

The WHO has now issued an official verdict based on scientific evidence: Microwave ovens do not have a harmful effect on the human body and the food consumed.

Important: the only exception is people with pacemakers, since the flow of intense microwaves negatively affects the functioning of heart rhythm drivers.

What do nutritionists and doctors say?

Many experts in dietary nutrition are confident that it is impossible to prepare healthy food in a microwave oven. But nutritionists also consider it unacceptable to cook in a frying pan or in a saucepan. The best option for preparing healthy food for nutritionists is using a multicooker or steamer.

Let's compare microwave radiation with other household appliances

A microwave oven, of course, produces a certain percentage of harmful effects on humans, but is it so dangerous compared to other irreplaceable technical attributes in the house? Let's look at a few examples:

• Fridge with NO FROST system. Compressor at a distance of 10 cm produces a magnetic field intensity that far exceeds the permissible level. Safety is ensured only at a distance of a meter from the door.
• Electric stove. At a distance of 25 cm from the front panel - already high magnetic field intensity (1–3 µT). It is recommended to cook at least 50 cm away from the stove.
• Electric kettles. Also publish high radiation within a radius of 20 cm – 0.6 µT.
• Irons. It is impossible not to succumb to the negative influence of radiation when ironing - devices emit magnetic fieldsexceeding 0.2 µT if the hand is less than 25 cm from the iron.
• Washing machine. You should not approach such working equipment at all - (10 µT).
• Vacuum cleaner. This the most powerful harmful emitter. During operation, the intensity of magnetic fields exceeds 100 μT.

When using a microwave oven, harmful radiation is emitted (about 0.3 - 0.8 µT), comparable to the negative impact of a Wi-Fi router or TV. But microwaves are equipped with a special protective barrier, through which it is impossible for radioactive waves to penetrate in amounts exceeding permissible standards.

Harm or benefit

In using a microwave oven There are many more pros than cons:

• deep heating in the oven - up to 2.5 cm from the surface;
• heating occurs significantly faster;
• uniform heating products;
• cooking food at lower temperature (below 100 degrees);
• convenience and comfort.

The only disadvantages include the loss of some substances necessary for the treatment of oncology. In particular, it is better to add garlic after removing the dish from the microwave, as it loses its beneficial properties.

Problems with microwave leakage have been observed in older microwave models. Modern samples have undergone improved modernization and are absolutely safe for health. The only exceptions are devices with damaged housing, so you should be careful about the technical condition of the microwave oven. If the door is not insulated enough, the percentage of radiation may increase several times, so it is recommended to exclude such devices from use.

Tips for using microwaves

The following rules must be followed to minimize possible harm from a microwave oven:

1. Install the device in a strictly horizontal position at a distance of a meter from the floor surface.
2. enjoy ventilation system.
3. Do not use the microwave to cook raw eggs in their shells.
4. Do not use utensils or containers containing metal.
5. Do not turn on without products.
6. Dispose of the faulty microwave oven.

A microwave oven has a large list of advantages. The only disadvantages that can be identified are the unproven effects of radiation, as well as the loss of some beneficial vitamins. The main advantage is time saving will allow microwaves to remain at the peak of popularity among household appliances for heating and cooking for a long time.