Microwaves do not cause cancer.

Question

According to the link, microwaves use a form of radiation known as non-ionizing radiation, which has not been related to cancer.

Comments

Microwaves do not cause cancer. The reasoning behind this is because microwave ovens use microwave radiation to heat food, but this does not mean that they make food radioactive.

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

Answer 1

This statement is accurate, microwaves do not cause cancer. Both Medical News Today and Cancer.org explain how that's the case.

According to Medical News Today, "Microwaves are a form of lower power EMFs. These waves produce nonionizing radiation, which does not have enough energy to damage cells directly." 

Cancer.org states that, "Microwaves, radio waves, and the light that we can see, are all examples of non-ionising radiation. The only non-ionising radiation which causes cancer is ultraviolet (UV) light, which is why people are advised to protect themselves from excessive sun exposure when UV levels are high. Microwaves are not known to cause cancer."

Overall, it is safe to say that this statement is not false and microwaves do not cause cancer.

Medical News Today - https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/do-microwaves-cause-cancer#microwaves-and-cancer

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

Comments

I think your fact check did an excellent job at verifying the claim. I liked that you used two sources and quoted both the sources. I also think it was good you made a overall claim summarizing the findings of both articles.

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This fact check did a great job of informing, answering, and backing up claims. The sources you used were very trustworthy, topical, and informational. Your concise response was a good and effective response to this claim.

Answer 2

Microwaves do not cause cancer. 

According to Cancer.net, " microwave ovens convert electricity into a type of low-frequency electromagnetic radiation called microwaves." 

These microwaves stay inside the oven when the doors are closed, and they do not linger in your food. They are also regulated by the FDA to keep the radiation inside the microwave oven. 

There is very little chance of you getting cancer from the microwaves coming from the appliance that heats our food. 

Can Using a Microwave Cause Cancer? | Cancer.Net

Answer 3

Comments

Microwaves do not cause cancer. The reasoning behind this is because microwave ovens use microwave radiation to heat food, but this does not mean that they make food radioactive. 

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

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Good job on citing a reliable source in your fact-check. This would be a better fact-check if you more clearly quoted your article.

Answer 4

This statement is true. As writers from the Cancer Council state:

 "Microwaves are an essential kitchen appliance for many of us, but is this seemingly innocent tool potentially giving us cancer?

The answer is no. Microwave ovens use microwave radiation to heat food, but this does not mean that they make food radioactive.

Microwaves heat food by causing water molecules to vibrate and as a result, food is heated. This is different from the absorption of heat energy by food which is the basis of conventional cooking."

The article emphasizes the importance of making sure your microwave is functioning probably and is used in a safe manner to ensure the health of the people using them.

Source: https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/news/do-microwave-ovens-cause-cancer-and-other-common-myths-about-cancer/

Answer 5

They do not. According to Cancer Council, ovens do not cause food to be radioactive and can heat them safely.

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

Answer 6

This is mainly true. According to an article published by VeryWell Health, "microwaves utilize a type of radiation called non-ionizing radiation that is not linked to cancer." Unlike ionizing radiation that's often emitted by nuclear plants and X-rays that can cause cancer, this type of radiation has shown no link. However, the article also explains that "the exposure of certain foods to microwave radiation may create cancer-causing substances, called carcinogens." This is more of an indirect cause than a direct cause of cancer.

Can Microwaves Cause Cancer? (verywellhealth.com)

Additionally, an article published to Medical News Today, medically reviewed by Teresa Hagan Thomas, PhD, explains that guidelines given by the government require manufacturers to produce microwave ovens based on specific criteria. They need to include "safety features that contain all electromagnetic radiation within the device" and also "shielding that keeps radiation from leaking." This ensures that microwave ovens are safe and pose no cancer risk, as long as it's used safely.

What to know about microwaves and cancer (medicalnewstoday.com)

Answer 7

According to the University of Texas article published by Alejandro Perez, it's a very common misconception that microwaves cause cancer. People associate the word "waves" with cancer causing, such as UV waves. Although there is radiation involved in microwaving food, "the radiation emitted by microwaves is low-energy. On the other hand, UV radiation is high-energy and can damage DNA in our cells." DNA damage is what leads to cancer, microwaves are not high energy enough to do this. Microwaves are closely regulated by the FDA to ensure that there is only enough energy in the waves to vibrate water molecules in our food to heat it up. 

https://sites.utexas.edu/think-twice/2021/12/01/do-microwaves-cause-cancer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=do-microwaves-cause-cancer

Answer 8

According to the American Cancer Society, while microwaves do transmit certain levels of RF radiation, it is not of serious health concern to use microwaves. If the microwaves are properly used according to instruction, there is not a serious health concern. Also, in the US "federal standards limit the amount of RF radiation that could leak from a microwave oven to a level far below what would harm people" ("Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation"). X-rays, gamma rays, and UV rays are of more concern because they are considered ionizing radiation, which can alter DNA and cause a more serious concern. However, microwaves do not emit any of those rays. 

Does RF Radiation Cause Cancer? | American Cancer Society

Answer 9

Microwaves itself do not cause cancer, given that they "utilize a type of radiation called non-ionizing radiation that is not linked to cancer." However, the process of cooking food in a microwave does pose risk to cancer. In theory, "the exposure of certain foods to microwave radiation may create cancer-causing substances, called carcinogens."

https://www.verywellhealth.com/do-microwaves-cause-cancer-5077367

Answer 10

According to Cancer Council, microwaves are not known to cause cancer.

"Microwave ovens use microwave radiation to heat food, but that does not mean that they make food radioactive. Microwaves heat food by causing water molecules to vibrate and, as a result, food is heated."

So, microwaves do not cause any harm to people and do not give them cancer.

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