Is food heated in a microwave oven carcinogenic?
957935
Nearly everybody in industrialized nations have been using microwaves on a daily basis for the entire duration of the 80's up until now.  Fewer, but a substantial amount of people have been using microwaves when they were not as dirt cheap in the 50's, 60's and 70's.\n\nThink about it; if there were a true carcinogenic threat from food cooked in a microwave oven, wouldn't we see a big increase in cancer patients starting in the 80's and increasing up until now?  Wouldn't somebody have figured out the carcinogenic threat already?
131162
At the heart of a microwave oven is a device called a magnetron which generates electromagnetic waves at extremely high frequencies. The magnetron is also used in radar systems. When the high-frequency radiation interacts with various materials, particularly materials containing moisture, their molecules vibrate at frequencies close to that of the radiation, thus heating the material.
572297
A baby in a microwave.
960287
Possibly.  Old microwaves may have leaky or damaged RF seals, or the door is no longer trued to the chassis.\n\nBut, the oven could also be dumping a lot of AC noise into the power lines.
28398
I'm not sure about the cancer, though I may ahve heard the notion before... I think the skepticism came from the discovery that over time and excessive use the lining of teflon cookwear can - through high temperatures - begin to change into gases and thus can be inhaled. I'm not sure how much holds true but that's what I've heard.
175561
Almost anything with an electric motor. (the starter on your car)\nElectric locks, relays (that clunk when you turn on the microwave)\nThe microwave itself (something called a magnetron inside which makes the radar waves that cook the food).
715720
Yes, it drives my hubby nutz that If I want to make a corn dog..I will wait 45 mintues to make it in the oven than in the microwave.\n\nI hate microwaves! Everything comes out too soggy or tough
966431
I KNOW ONE USE : WE USE MICROWAVES TO HEAT FOODSTUFF.
929316
acute hazard associated w/ microwave radiation (radiation for RADAR transmitter) is heating the water in your cells.
958774
the microwave literally shoots microwaves at the food; these microwaves then vibrate the food particles, causing friction, which heats them up.\n\nhttp://www.gallawa.com/microtech/how_work.html how a microwave works, technically
30979
Heat during cooking can destroy Vitamin C in food.
569203
Burnt food may produce carcinogens and has been linked to cancer in studies.  But everything is linked to cancer.  Eat in moderation.\n\nhttp://www.thetampapodiatrist.com
199111
Checking Ovens For Leakage\n\nThere is little cause for concern about excess microwaves leaking from ovens unless the door hinges, latch, or seals are damaged, or if the oven was made before 1971. In FDA's experience, most ovens tested show little or no detectable microwave leakage. If there is some problem and you believe your oven might be leaking excessive microwaves, contact the oven manufacturer, a microwave oven service organization, your state health department, or the nearest FDA office. Some oven manufacturers will arrange for your oven to be checked. Many states have programs for inspecting ovens or they may be able to refer you to microwave oven servicing organizations that are equipped to test ovens for excessive emission. A limited number of ovens are also tested in homes by FDA as part of its overall program to make sure that ovens meet the safety standard.\n\nA word of caution about the microwave testing devices being sold to consumers: FDA has tested a number of these devices and found them generally inaccurate and unreliable. If used, they should be relied on only for a very approximate reading. The sophisticated testing devices used by public health authorities to measure oven leakage are far more accurate and are periodically tested.\n\nTips on Safe Microwave Oven Operation\n\nFollow the manufacturer's instruction manual for recommended operating procedures and safety precautions for your oven model. \nDon't operate an oven if the door does not close firmly or is bent, warped, or otherwise damaged. \nNever operate an oven if you have reason to believe it will continue to operate with the door open. \nTo add to the margin of safety already built into the oven, don't stand directly against an oven (and don't allow children to do this) for long periods of time while it is operating. \nUsers should not heat water or liquids in the microwave oven for excessive amounts of time.
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When you microwave things you let off electro-magnetic radiation. That is why you want to check the seal on your microwave occasionally because if this leaks it is very harmful. Microwave radiation puts you at risk for cancer.\n\nTen reasons to throw out your Microwave oven (taken from research): \n\n1. Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term, permanent, brain damage by ‘shorting out” electrical impulses in the brain (de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue).\n2. The human body cannot metabolize (breakdown) the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.\n3. Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.\n4. The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual (long term, permanent) within the human body.\n5. Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.\n6. The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in microwave ovens.\n7. Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths (tumors). This may explain the rapid increased rate of colon cancer in America.\n8. The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.\n9. Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and serum alterations.\n10. Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.
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Of course it will, the microwaves dont just excite water molecules.\nMoirae you are wrong.  How does something burn if it didn't heat up?\nWhy dont you both try rolling up a whole roll of aluminum foil into a ball and putting it in the microwave on high for an hour.
822916
heating distilled water for about 10 minutes and then dropping a skittles or something about that size in it...it is \n!!!VERY DANGEROUS!!!DONT TAKE IT OUT OF THE MICROWAVE UNTIL ITS COOLED OFF!!!
499928
Many plastics materials are microwave transparent, but some grades of Polypropylene have been refined specifically for use in microwave cooking applications.\n\nBP is a major supplier, I suggest you look there?