Contents:
- Medical Video: Do microwaves cause cancer?
- Microwave oven working mechanism
- Effect of using microwave ovens on food
- So, is a microwave oven really safe?
- Tips for using a microwave oven safely
Medical Video: Do microwaves cause cancer?
The use of microwave ovens tends to be easy and concise to heat food in a short time. However, there is an assumption that this is dangerous because it provides radiation to electromagnetic waves on food. Is it true that radiation exposure is harmful to health?
Microwave oven working mechanism
Microwave ovens are electronic cookware that produces small (micro) electromagnetic waves to heat food. Unlike ordinary cookware, microwave ovens do not use fire for cooking. Waves in the oven are produced by electron pipes from inside the machine, then emitted by an oven interior made of iron. The wave radiation will be absorbed by food in the form of heat, causing the particles in the food to move and produce more heat energy. But waves from a microwave oven can only pass through media made of glass, paper, ceramics or plastic and cannot pass through media made of iron.
Effect of using microwave ovens on food
The notion that microwave ovens pollute food with radioactive exposure is very incorrect, because the waves that food receives are in the form of heat energy. This causes some foods that contain lots of water to heat faster when cooked or heated with a microwave oven. Waves in microwave ovens also cannot cook food from the inside out, because heat is received on the outer surface of food, so that thick or dense foods require a longer time to be heated.
In addition, exposure to electromagnetic waves from a microwave oven does not reduce the nutritional content of the food, but the temperature is too hot in the oven when cooking can damage various nutrients. This is very common in vegetables and fruits which should only be heated for a short time. Nutritional damage can also occur when cooking with other equipment when the temperature is too hot.
So, is a microwave oven really safe?
The FDA and WHO state that microwave ovens are safe to use to cook food as long as it is in accordance with the rules of use. The radiation of electromagnetic waves produced by microwave ovens is of a nature non-ionizing so that it does not cause DNA changes or genetic mutations, unlike nuclear radiation and medical radiation that are of a nature ionizing. In fact, some household appliances also have the same radiation properties as microwave ovens such as heaters, mobile phones, computers, and TVs.
Although exposure to certain electromagnetic waves is likely to cause cancer, radiation from a microwave oven has not been proven to cause cancer. This is due to relatively small radiation exposure and short use. Use according to the rules will also not cause sufficient radiation exposure to cause cancer.
Excessive radiation exposure can still occur if the oven is not properly closed when operated, either due to negligence or damage. The impact of microwave oven radiation exposure for a long time or high intensity can cause burns because the body absorbs heat from the oven. Radiation exposure will be more dangerous when exposing the eyes and testes because they have tissues that are very sensitive to temperature.
Burns may also be caused when moving food from a microwave oven, especially if food uses metal containers, because it tends to absorb heat and cause excessive heat to food. Boiling food ingredients in the form of liquids such as eggs and water in a microwave oven can cause excessive heat and trigger eruptions, which if exposed to the skin surface can cause serious burns.
Tips for using a microwave oven safely
- Follow instructions for use from microwave oven manufacturers for safety procedures and instructions, each model and brand may be different.
- Do not use the oven if the oven door cannot be closed tightly, bent or damaged.
- Do not stand facing the oven for a long time.
- Avoid using excess water when cooking using an oven.
- Use the container and cover when cooking with the oven so it doesn't get dirty quickly.
- Avoid using food containers that are not intended for use in a microwave oven, especially ordinary plastic and iron containers.
- To be safer, use a glass or ceramic as a food container when cooking with a microwave.
- Minimize the use of water, especially when cooking vegetables-based foods with a microwave.
- Heat and check regularly until the food is boiling or steaming at about 75 oven temperatureso
- Clean and check for any damage to the oven at regular intervals.
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