Microwaves cause cancer

Question

Microwaves do not cause cancer because the radiation they emit is non-ionizing meaning it is not strong enough to damage any cells or DNA. An example of ionizing radiation that does cause cancer would be an X-ray such as the ones used at the doctors office. There is not much information, but there is ongoing research regarding the potential health risks caused by the radiation emitted from microwave use

Comments

I agree with your claim, but I'm interested to see if non-ionizing radiation can't "damage" cells is there some other side effect or change that takes place due to exposure?

Answer 1

Generally Microwaves do not cause cancer. FDA has regulated the manufacture of microwave ovens since 1971. Microwave oven manufacturers are required to certify their products and meet safety performance standards created and enforced by the FDA to protect the public health. And according to the FDA's official website, microwaves are non-ionizing radiation, so they do not have the same risks as x-rays or other types of ionizing radiation. Only exposure to ionizing radiation can alter atoms and molecules and cause damage to cells in organic matter. 

https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/resources-you-radiation-emitting-products/microwave-ovens#:~:text=The%20Food%20and%20Drug%20Administration,heat%20that%20cooks%20the%20food. 

However, another research claimed that under certain conditions the irradiation by low intensity MW can substantially induce cancer progression in humans and in animal models. The carcinogenic effect of MW irradiation is typically manifested after long term (up to 10 years and more) exposure. 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21716201/ 

Since the research was done by 2011 there might be improvement on the technology for microwave oven manufacturing and safety and security.

Answer 2

According to The Cancer Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting cancer around the globe, says that microwaves are completely safe to use, without any increased risk of developing cancer.

Comments

You provided a source to your claim answer but it would have been a  stronger response if you added one or two links to your information.

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This is a good response to the claim, but it would be beneficial to add a source to support your fact check.

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I agree with you, and I searched up the article you wrote about, but it would be help your credibility if you included a link to the sources you access, or elaborate on why this claim is false.

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Lacking available information. Your response to the claim answer is strong and agreeable although providing a direct link to your claim answer would make this stronger.

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Though it would be helpful to provide a source to back up your fact check, this is a good answer to the claim.

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Always include a source link URL. Thanks!

Answer 3

I would say that microwaves don't cause cancer. I think that it's a common myth that is spread around that microwaves are dangerous to have and use, but that's not so truthful. The type of radiation admitted from microwaves is a noncancerous threat because it's non-ionizing and doesn't pose a threat to one's health. This is compared to how other forms of radiation can lead to cancer and be a health risk.

https://www.cancer.org.au/iheard/does-radiation-from-microwaves-cause-cancer#:~:text=Microwaves%20use%20a%20safe%20type,energy%20than%20radiation%20from%20microwaves.

https://www.americanoncology.com/blogs/do-microwave-ovens-cause-cancer-unveiling-facts-and-busting-myths

Comments

I appreciate how you mentioned the other forms of radiation that can lead to cancer. This claim answer would be stronger if mentioning which types of radiation can lead to cancer.

Answer 4

It is a common misconception that microwaves cause cancer because they produce radiation, and too much radiation exposure can cause cancer. However, according to Cancer Council of Australia, "Microwaves are safe to use without worrying about radiation." The website goes on to say, "There are many different types of radiation that have different levels of energy. One type, called ionizing radiation can contribute to cancer risk with accumulated exposure over time, for examples when exposed in nuclear accidents or via 'atomic' bombs. However, microwaves, radio waves and the light that we can see, are all examples of non-ionizing radiation which in the most part, is safe. Microwaves use a safe type of non-ionizing radiation. This means microwaves are safe to use and to heat up food without worrying about radiation." This means that you don't need to worry about using the microwaves because they are 100% safe.

https://www.cancer.org.au/iheard/does-radiation-from-microwaves-cause-cancer

Answer 5

Microwaves don't cause cancer. Microwave ovens use non-ionizing radiation to heat food, which basically means they do not have enough energy to damage DNA or cause cancer. Microwaves heat food by causing water molecules in the food to vibrate, producing heat through friction. This type of radiation is non-ionizing, meaning it cannot remove electrons from atoms or damage DNA, unlike ionizing radiation. Furthermore, Microwave ovens are designed with metal shielding and a mesh screen in the door to prevent radiation from escaping. As long as the microwave is functioning correctly the radiation stays inside.

https://www.cancer.org.au/iheard/does-radiation-from-microwaves-cause-cancer

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21716201/

Answer 6

Microwaves cannot directly be linked to cause cancer. Radiofrequency radiation is the radiation in microwaves. This radiation is so low energy that it cannot cause bodily harm. Prevent using plastic containers that aren't microwave safe. When used properly, microwaves are safe and don't cause a link to cancer. 

radiofrequency-radiation.html

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-microwaves-bad-for-you

Comments

Though you posed a good answer to the claim and cited credible sources, this answer would be even better if you took some time to discuss the legitimacy of the original source and where they might have gone wrong, as well as explain why you turned to the sources you did to debunk the claim. Additionally, mention what information in your answer you got from each source, instead of just linking at the bottom. This will help to legitimize your answer and make it seem more credible, especially since you are stating that the original claim was false.

Answer 7

No, microwaves do not cause cancer. Seeing as microwaves use a type of radiation to heat up food it is a fair question to ask. Although, microwaves use a non-ionizing radiation which is  safe to use for heating up your food. Also, there just hasn't been any concrete evidence that microwaves cause cancer. Microwaves are also designed to keep the radiation inside of the microwave itself so there isn't any exposure there either.

https://www.americanoncology.com/blogs/do-microwave-ovens-cause-cancer-unveiling-facts-and-busting-myths

https://www.cancer.org.au/iheard/does-radiation-from-microwaves-cause-cancer 

Answer 8

What the original post is stating is that microwaves cannot cause cancer because they are non-ionizing radiation, unable to damage cells. The hysteria around microwaves starts with a superstition around microwave ovens giving their owner cancer by eating the heated food. This claim can be traced back to Hans Hertel and his unpublished, with no peer-reviewed research paper titled “Comparative study of the effects on human beings of food prepared by conventional means and in microwave ovens.” Since then, numerous organizations like the FDA have rebutted that original claim, implying instead that if someone has been injured by a microwave oven, it is likely due to a malfunctioning product and the heat it produces.

 

Cited Sources:

Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Microwave Ovens.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, 12 Oct. 2023, www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/resources-you-radiation-emitting-products/microwave-ovens.

“Case of hertel v. Switzerland.” The International Journal of Human Rights, vol. 3, no. 1, Mar. 1999, pp. 150–153, https://doi.org/10.1080/13642989908406803.

Answer 9

This claim is not true. Microwaves use electromagnetic radiation waves to heat up food, which is not the same as x-rays that can be harmful. Electromagnetic waves can cause skin burns but only at high levels and directly on the skin, which won't happen when using a microwave. Microwave radiation is also not ionized, meaning it won't damage DNA. All of this information can be found on the officiall USFDA website: https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/resources-you-radiation-emitting-products/microwave-ovens

Answer 10

I agree with your claim. Microwaves emit non-ionizing radiation, which is not strong enough to damage cells or DNA, making them not a direct cause of cancer. While there is ongoing research into the long-term health effects of electromagnetic fields, current evidence does not support the idea that microwave radiation from household appliances is carcinogenic.

Sources

National Cancer Institute: Radiation and Cancer

PubMed Study: Electromagnetic Fields and Cancer