wiz-icon
MyQuestionIcon
MyQuestionIcon
3
You visited us 3 times! Enjoying our articles? Unlock Full Access!
Question

Why do people advise not to use microwaves/ovens for heating ? Why are they harmful for our health ?

Open in App
Solution

  • Microwaves are produced by an electronic tube called a magnetron. ... Water molecules vibrate when they absorb microwave energy, and the friction betweenthe molecules results in heating which cooks the food.
  • Unlike conventional ovens,microwaves are absorbed only in the food and not in the surrounding oven cavity.
  • The handy appliance uses microwave radiation to do so. Although generally recognised as safe, the internet is awash with articles about the dangersmicrowave radiation poses to your food.
  • Some claim using microwaves can cause “cataracts and cancer”. Other posts says it “zaps the nutrients right out of yourfood”

dangers of microwave radiation
  • Over-exposure to certain types of electromagnetic radiation can be harmful. The higher the frequency of the radiation,
  • the more damage it is likely to cause to the body: microwaves cause internal heating of body tissues. infrared radiation is felt as heat and causes skin burns.
  • Microwave Ovens and Health. Microwave radiation can heat body tissue the same way it heats food. Exposure to high levels of microwaves can cause a painful burn. ... Additionally, the lens of the eye is particularly sensitive to intense heat, and exposure to high levels of microwaves can cause cataracts.

​​​​​​​Microwave ovens. Microwave ovens work by using very high levels of a certain frequency of RF radiation (in the microwave spectrum) to heat foods. Whenmicrowaves are absorbed by food containing water, it causes the water molecules to vibrate, which produces heat.

flag
Suggest Corrections
thumbs-up
0
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
similar_icon
Related Videos
thumbnail
lock
Radioactive Pollution
BIOLOGY
Watch in App
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
CrossIcon