The Microwave Oven: Is it actually hurting us? Likely so it appears...

I'm sure there are studies which point both ways. Microwaves being safe and microwaves being dangerous.

I made my mind up long ago to go as natural as possible. I don't use the microwave, ever.

I'm fairly certain it contributes to cancer in those who use the microwave for many years.

We've already got enough sources of ionizing radiation that were not in control of, so might as well try to limit the ones we can control.

reply to post by phishyblankwaters


Good info.

Cheers for that.

My uncle died of cancer due to eating too many mircowave meals but i have to admit to using them from time to time.

reply to post by muzzleflash

I am just looking for proof that this isn't a likely source.

That might be hard to come by, it's impossible to prove a negative.

But what we can say is most of the information in those "studies" is false.

Microwaves affect the WATER in the matter being cooked, nothing else. Microwaves can not affect DNA. The only difference with cooking in a microwave is that you are heating up all of the water molecules together, instead of cooking from the outside in.

Seeing as those waves can only affect the water, and testing has been done to show the water is the same before and after, i think you can sleep a little easier.

Still, I wouldn't microwave your milk while standing ontop of the microwave naked with a knife stuck in the door to keep it open. Just to be safe

reply to post by phishyblankwaters


Ok I have one major problem with your links however.

I am real picky about ad hominem attacks, and calling anyone who thinks a microwave is dangerous 'the microwave brigade" or whatever, just seems rather silly. Can't the evidence speak for itself?

Also saying a study is not acceptable because it is from Russia is silly. Russia was the first nation into space.

Also this fellow from Skeptoid.com doesn't appear to link any references. He just claims a bunch of contrary information without actually explaining or providing resources to help explain his position.

Help find these actual sources from documented studies please. I am not saying he is making it up, maybe he is right, I would just like to review something a little more tangible.

reply to post by muzzleflash


Yeah good point.

It might be safe to say it's a combination of several 'modern' influences.

reply to post by muzzleflash

I am real picky about ad hominem attacks, and calling anyone who thinks a microwave is dangerous 'the microwave brigade" or whatever, just seems rather silly. Can't the evidence speak for itself?

i have no control over the terms he used.

Also saying a study is not acceptable because it is from Russia is silly. Russia was the first nation into space.

I didn't say it was unacceptable, I inferred it was questionable, first because plenty of studies, peer reviewed ones, come out of russia that are complete BS (time machine anyone?) and secondly, because the data quoted in your link refers to workers in the 1950s building RADAR, that doesn't equate to microwave ovens at all.

He just claims a bunch of contrary information without actually explaining or providing resources to help explain his position. Help find these actual sources from documented studies please. I am not saying he is making it up, maybe he is right, I would just like to review something a little more tangible.

right at the bottom of the page under the heading "References & Further Reading"

References & Further Reading Dr. Hans Hertel. NEXUS Magazine. Mapleton, Australia: Mercola, 1995. Volume 2, #25. Kleinerman, R.A., Linet, M.S., Hatch, E.E., Tarone, R.E., Black, P.M., Selker, R.G., Shapiro, W.R., Fine, H.A., Inskip, P.D. "Self-reported electrical appliance use and risk of adult brain tumors." American Journal of Epidemiology. 15 Jan. 2005, Volume 161, Number 2: 136-146. Latimer, Joan M,, Matsen, John M. "Microwave oven irradiation as a method for bacterial decontamination in a clinical microbiology laboratory." Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 1 Oct. 1977, Volume 6, Number 4: 340-342. Mikkelson, Barbara, Mikkelson, David P. "Boiling Point." snopes.com: Microwaved Water - See What It Does to Plants. snopes.com, 22 Aug. 2006. Web. 5 Dec. 2009. Mudgett, R. "Electromagnetic energy and food processing." Journal of Microwave Power and Electromagnetic Energy. 1 Dec. 1988, Volume 23, Number 4: 225-230. Welt, B. A., Tong, C. H. , Rossen, J. L., Lund, D. B. "Effect of microwave radiation on inactivation of Clostridium sporogenes (PA 3679) spores." Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 1 Feb. 1994, Volume 60, Number 2: 482-488.

Source

reply to post by Viking9019


That was what was written on his death certificate was it?

Or is it what you assume to be the case, with no actual proof apart from your opinion?

Originally posted by unityemissions
I'm sure there are studies which point both ways. Microwaves being safe and microwaves being dangerous.

That is an understatement!

I want to find something from either side that convinces me though. None of it seems to be backed up very well, from either side.

And I see both sides making mistakes and using straw-men etc.

Oh well, maybe this is one of those things I just have to guess on. Which I hate to do.

But since I avoid the microwave anyway in the first place (since it makes food soggy and taste bad), I won't really have to change my habits either way.

I am just curious to find the truth of the matter, which I am not certain I have located yet.

reply to post by muzzleflash

I am just curious to find the truth of the matter, which I am not certain I have located yet.

I think you've got a few people curious now as well. Try the references i posted from the skeptiod article, not sure if those science journals and what not are accessible online for free though, but the snopes water article shouldn't be too hard to find.

One thing to remember, most of these claims are 20 years old, yet no real science is there to back them up, the science quoted in your link is interesting, but goes completely against what plenty of other scientists have found via studies.

you might be correct, it might be one of those issues you won't really solve 100%

reply to post by Viking9019

My uncle died of cancer due to eating too many mircowave meals but i have to admit to using them from time to time.

then he's the first person in the world. Might want to contact the cancer society or the local media to get that story out there, the first man to die conclusively from cancer caused from a microwave oven.

They should do a study to see what is created when you microwave Monsanto corn!

In the Swiss study, they were microwaving organic produce.

Originally posted by phishyblankwaters

right at the bottom of the page under the heading "References & Further Reading"

References & Further Reading Dr. Hans Hertel. NEXUS Magazine. Mapleton, Australia: Mercola, 1995. Volume 2, #25. Kleinerman, R.A., Linet, M.S., Hatch, E.E., Tarone, R.E., Black, P.M., Selker, R.G., Shapiro, W.R., Fine, H.A., Inskip, P.D. "Self-reported electrical appliance use and risk of adult brain tumors." American Journal of Epidemiology. 15 Jan. 2005, Volume 161, Number 2: 136-146. Latimer, Joan M,, Matsen, John M. "Microwave oven irradiation as a method for bacterial decontamination in a clinical microbiology laboratory." Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 1 Oct. 1977, Volume 6, Number 4: 340-342. Mikkelson, Barbara, Mikkelson, David P. "Boiling Point." snopes.com: Microwaved Water - See What It Does to Plants. snopes.com, 22 Aug. 2006. Web. 5 Dec. 2009. Mudgett, R. "Electromagnetic energy and food processing." Journal of Microwave Power and Electromagnetic Energy. 1 Dec. 1988, Volume 23, Number 4: 225-230. Welt, B. A., Tong, C. H. , Rossen, J. L., Lund, D. B. "Effect of microwave radiation on inactivation of Clostridium sporogenes (PA 3679) spores." Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 1 Feb. 1994, Volume 60, Number 2: 482-488.

Thank you. I failed to see it, sorry.
I am going to try to find these reference materials and look over them myself to see if these claims match up.

I will also see if these claims have been challenged or disproved since then.

This will take a long time and a lot of research and I am really falling asleep now so this will have to wait at least 6 hours. I'll be back.

reply to post by muzzleflash


I hear you there, I'm quite interested now too i'll see what I can dig up, if you get links to any of those references please post them in here for all of us.

I got rid of my Microwave recently. I think there is something just not right with those things. An oven can cook 90% of the stuff that a microwave can and even then most microwave only products are so unhealthy for you it isn't even funny. Oh and just because a plastic container is labeled microwave safe doesn't mean that the chemicals don't seep into your food, just means they won't melt.

If you are going to use one of those things don't use plastics in it. Especially if the food is for children. I cannot stress this enough.

I don't know if anyone else has noticed but most food cooked in a microwave tastes kind of funny.

I don't use microwaves, don't own one.

I think they're unhealthy. not saying they'll kill you or that there's too much radiation or anything like that.... but I can't see how nuking food in a matter of seconds/minutes can be healthy?

But it's a personal choice I guess.

THis is not good news.

I believe there is something we are all doing which is causing us to be sick. To develop cancers. It's something very common we all do, I suspect.

I've wondered about plastics.
I've wondered about microwaves.

Putting plastics together with microwaves might be a clue.

When we pick up fast food in plastic containers, and decide to eat it later, I know we are supposed to remove it from it's plastic container before we heat it in the microwave. I'm sure there are lazy times when we don't. (Speaking for myself here.)

These reports about microwaves are not something we want to hear. But here it is.

I think it's ok to use a microwave every now and then but I wouldn't use them all the time. You are bombarding your food with high frequency electromagnetic radiation which excites the water molecules in your food. No one can honestly say microwaves are 100% safe, and my natural instincts tell me that eating microwaved food all the time would be harmful to my body.

reply to post by ladyinwaiting


What's disturbing is the food that come in plastic containers that tell you to cook them in the microwave using said containers.

I don't even heat my coffee up anymore honestly ill just make a new one.

reply to post by metaldemon2000


Plastic containers ain't plastic containers...ok that doesn't sound as good as oils ain't oils...but what I'm getting at is that some takeaway containers are microwaveable, some aren't.

If they say they can be microwaved, then it's safe.

If they don't say it, then it's not safe...but people do anyway.