Adverse effects due to microwave radiation from cellular phones, radio transmission and radar traffic devices are topics of controversy and ongoing research, according to the United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). The Food and Drug Administration claims that radiation emissions from microwave ovens do not pose a public health risk and that radiation injury is extremely rare. The agency states that unless the microwave oven has a damaged latch, seal or hinges, there is little concern over leaking microwave radiation.
Identification
A microwave is a short radio wave that varies in length from less than .04 inch to 12 inches. Light waves can be blocked by rain, fog and smoke, yet microwaves will pass easily through these elements. Microwaves can be reflected and concentrated and have the ability to pass through the earth's ionosphere, which surrounds the globe and inhibits other types of radio waves from passing through.
Function
Microwaves were initially used in radar, which is an acronym for radio detection and ranging. Radar was used to determine the distance between objects by transmitting bursts of microwaves. Later, microwaves were used to cook food in microwave ovens. Today, microwaves are also used by satellites to transmit information. Because they easily penetrate clouds, rain and fog, they effectively transmit computer data and telephone calls via microwave towers.
History
Microwaves were first utilized during World War II through the use of radar. Today the term is synonymous with microwave ovens. Microwave ovens evolved from those early radar projects. It was during a radar research project in the mid-1940s that Dr. Percy Spencer of Raytheon Corporation noticed the candy bar in his pocket had melted after testing a vacuum. This triggered his curiosity, which spurred him to place popcorn kernels near the tube. The result, the popcorn popped all over the office and eventually the microwave oven was born, with Raytheon filing the first microwave cooking patent.
Warning
Microwave ovens are unsuitable for heating baby bottles or blood for transfusions. Tests by the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences indicated that inhaling the artificial butter of microwave popcorn could pose a health risk. And the Global Health Center raises other questions on the safety of cooking with microwaves. According to the center, microwave cooking may adversely affect the molecular makeup of certain foods.
Considerations
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the serious dangers a microwave oven can pose to small children comes not from the microwaves but from the ease in which a youngster can open a microwave oven and remove scalding hot liquids. According to an article posted on the agency's website, children as young as 18 months have been seriously burned after opening a microwave oven. Microwave ovens have the potential of heating liquids to a dangerously hot temperature, which can result in severe burns.
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