Microwave radiation as a health hazard
Nature
Microwave radiation may cause cancer and disrupt immune systems, and its magnetic fields create long-term nervous disorders.
Background
Microwave cookers operate at higher frequencies than most domestic appliances, but are shielded.
Incidence
Microwave radiation is emitted by military and civilian radar installations, satellite ground stations, relay towers for long-distance telephone links and television transmitters, as well as microwave ovens and citizens band radios. Results emerging from a USA study in 1984, investigating the biological and health effects of non-ionizing radiation, show glandular changes and a higher rate of cancer among laboratory rats chronically exposed to low-intensity microwaves. These findings could provide an experimental basis for widely reported complaints of headaches, dizziness, memory loss and fatigue from people chronically exposed to microwave radiation.
Research reported in 1995 showed that cooking or heating food in microwave ovens can cause it severe molecular damage which, when eaten, leads to abnormal changes in human blood. These changes can cause deterioration of the immune system. In 1991, an extension service of the University of Minnesota warned against heating babies' milk bottles in microwaves for both practical safety and nutritional reasons: Heating the bottle in a microwave can cause slight changes in the milk. In infant formulas there may be a loss of some vitamins. In expressed breast milk some protective properties may be destroyed.
In New Zealand and Australia it is forbidden to erect mobile telephone transmitting masts on school properties. In California communications companies are advised not to install equipment near educational properties.
Claim
1. Blood for transfusions is routinely warmed but, according to a 1991 law suit in the USA, when a nurse warmed a sample in a microwave over (not normal practice) it killed the patient.
2. According to a 1999 report, in most European Union countries a high proportion of households had decided to do without microwave ovens for non-economic reasons.
Counter-claim
1. Microwave cookers operate at higher frequencies than most domestic appliances, but are shielded.
2. Research by the National Radiological Protection Board of the UK has shown no proven health risks from mobile telephone transmitting masts.
Broader
Reference(s)
Type
(E) Emanations of other problems