Symptoms included headache, paresthesia, diarrhea, malaise and lassitude.
The radiation in a microwave is known as non-ionizing, and they don't have the power to damage DNA in cells. In other words, you won't get cancer from standing in front of a leaky microwave. But it's still not a good idea. In very rare cases, a gap in the seal can lead to skin burns.
Most injuries from microwave ovens are the result of heat related burns from overheated food or liquids. If microwave ovens are used while broken or altered, it is possible for them to leak electromagnetic radiation. Microwave radiation leaks are hard to detect because you can't smell or see microwaves.
It's just heating your food. The non-ionizing radiation from microwaves is only produced when the microwave is on and cooking. All the microwaves are made inside your oven and absorbed by the food. Microwaves are built so that electromagnetic radiation doesn't escape the oven.
But many people continue to wonder whether standing next to a microwave while it's on can expose them to radiation — and if so, how much. Although microwave ovens can in fact leak radiation, the levels that might be released are fairly minute.
How common is radiation sickness? Radiological or nuclear emergencies that result in radiation sickness are rare, but they can involve significant numbers of people. For example, after the Chornobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986, approximately 6,000 children developed thyroid cancer.
The average microwave oven lasts about seven years with normal use, and even less with heavy use and poor maintenance. A large family may find themselves replacing their appliance every four to five years as they become more reliant on its use to heat up snacks and leftovers, or to defrost meals.
Why Rusty Microwaves are Dangerous. Microwave radiation can leak from a rusted microwave oven. Rust on the outer casing does not generally pose a threat to safety, but it may be more dangerous elsewhere. Disconnect the oven periodically and test the inside walls and the handle.
And your eyes are like little water balloons that see. What's more, the eye—particularly the lens—is generally very sensitive to damage. Overexposure to radiation, including microwave radiation, can lead to clouding of the lens, known as a cataract.
While microwaves are generally considered safe and efficient, new research indicates that at extremely high magnitudes of power, microwaves have the potential to cause brain injuries.
It has been found that RF-EMF can induce changes in central nervous system nerve cells, including neuronal cell apoptosis, changes in the function of the nerve myelin and ion channels; furthermore, RF-EMF act as a stress source in living creatures.
Red has the lowest energy and violet the highest.
Violet colour has the smallest wavelength and the highest frequency. The wavelength of violet colour is between to nanometers.
When it comes to visible light, the highest frequency color, which is violet, also has the most energy. The lowest frequency of visible light, which is red, has the least energy.
Side effects depend on where the radiation is aimed. Some side effects might show up quickly, but others might not show up until 1 to 2 years after treatment.
Use soap and plenty of water. If you do not have access to a sink or faucet, use a moist wipe, clean wet cloth, or a damp paper towel to wipe the parts of your body that were uncovered. Pay special attention to your hands and face.
While lower frequency radio waves can follow the contours of the Earth and bounce off layers in the atmosphere, microwaves only travel line-of-sight, typically limited to 30-40 miles on the Earth's surface. Another important property of microwave radiation is that it's absorbed by moisture.
Even if you stood 2 inches away every time you warmed up your lunch, you'd only be exposed to up to 5 milliwatts of microwave radiation per square centimeter--about the amount in a laser pointer, far below levels known to cause harm.