4 like 1 dislike
in General Factchecking by Apprentice (1.5k points)
According to the link, microwaves use a form of radiation known as non-ionizing radiation, which has not been related to cancer.
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
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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
by (100 points)
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It seems from the claim that "Microwaves do not cause cancer" is truthful or its not misleading. In the article that it links below it talks a lot about how the radiation emitted from the microwave isn't directly linked to causing cancer. The evidence that microwaves increase the risk of cancer though is very little and theres not much to support that. The article says that microwaves are a low type of frequency radiation and its classified as non-ionizing. Non-ionzing radiation is not linked to cancer. They provide other examples of radiation that is associated with cancer and is higher-frequency such as gamma radiation and x-rays.
All in all, this claim proves truthful and provides the necessary evidence to counter a lot of peoples beliefs that microwave radiation directly causes cancer.

26 Answers

1 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
selected by

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

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by Novice (640 points)
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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.
by Newbie (460 points)
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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.
ago by Newbie (240 points)
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I think you wrote a well-worded and understandable fact check. While the topic of cancer can cause panic, your fact check explained the basics in a way that did not scare people. I would add an extra source to add to the credibility of your writing, though.
ago by Novice (500 points)
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You did a great job clearly explaining why the statement is true and supporting it with credible sources. I like how you used direct quotes from both Medical News Today and Cancer.org ,  that really strengthens your argument and shows you researched reliable information.
ago by Newbie (220 points)
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I like how you used to validate sources that relate to the claim, Medical News Today and cancer.org
ago by Newbie (240 points)
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Great fact check! A lot of the time, correlation can lead to causation in articles, but it is important to realize that does not always correlate. Even though this article can be easy to approve, I like that you still evaluated the sources and looked into where they from. Medical news today and cancer.org are useful sources
ago by (180 points)
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I liked how you used your sources for your response. They are credible articles, and you also applied the evidence well. You did a good job of including a quote that strengthens your response as well as warns us readers about what to actually look out for. One area that I believe you should work on is analysis. It could benefit you if you expanded on the topic a bit further. Otherwise, great response.
ago by (180 points)
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I really like your response to this fact check, mainly because of how you were able to use multiple resources. I feel like since you did this, it automatically helps boost your credibility for your fact check, making it seem more reliable for readers. I also can appreciate the evidence you provided, including facts, statistics, and science to help back and support the claim you are making. Great work!
1 like 0 dislike
by Novice (640 points)

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

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1 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.1k points)

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
by Apprentice (1.3k points)
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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.
ago by Newbie (230 points)
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I like how you got straight to the point. I think maybe putting a quote from the article would have helped and been interesting.
1 like 0 dislike
by Novice (680 points)

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/

1 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
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
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2 like 0 dislike
by Novice (500 points)

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)

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ago by Newbie (260 points)
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I really like that you really went into depth with your answer and also that you included 2 different articles. I also really liked how you brought awareness to the fact that microwaves can create cancerous substance in your food!
1 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.3k points)

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-energyOn 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

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1 like 0 dislike
by Novice (980 points)

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

1 like 0 dislike
by Novice (890 points)

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

Exaggerated/ Misleading
1 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.9k points)
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
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