A microwave oven is a quick and easy way to cook meals and re-heat leftover food. It is very important to follow all safety precautions while operating your microwave to keep you and your family safe.
The most important thing to remember when using your microwave oven is to keep the gasket around the door clean and in excellent condition. This gasket is what keeps the microwaves, or radiation, in the oven. If the gasket becomes cracked, broken, or even dirty it may let radiation escape from the oven when it is operating. When you clean the oven after use, wipe the gasket too and check for cracks or any damage. If the gasket appears to be cracked or broken, do not use the oven until it has been checked by a professional repair person. If the door becomes damaged or the hinges are not working correctly it can also allow the microwave to leak. You should check the door frequently to be sure that it is closing completely. Never tamper with the safety features of the microwave as this may lead to serious injury or health problems.
Some studies suggest that exposure to microwaves can cause headaches, birth defects of the babies whose mothers are exposed, miscarriage, skin cancer, chronic fatigue, sterility in men, and cataracts. These studies also suggest that exposure to radiation leaking from a microwave oven can interfere with your immune system. The problem in determining the health risks of microwaves is that no one knows right now what the long term effects of microwaves really are. There are many conflicting opinions about whether the microwaves will cause adverse health problems. Since no one knows for sure the microwave should be used with extreme caution.
Always read the instruction manual that comes with your microwave oven to insure you know how to operate it safely. Don’t stand close to the microwave while it is in operation. Instruct children to stand away from the microwave while it is running. Standing just a few feet away from the microwave can reduce the risk of health problems from leaking radiation. Do not allow young children to operate a microwave oven. Children enjoy watching the food cooking in the microwave especially if it is equipped with a turntable. Parents should discourage their children from staring into the microwave.
Buy a detector to test your microwave to be sure it is not leaking radiation. The detectors range in price from ten dollars to about thirty five dollars and can be purchased in most hardware stores. If you discover that the microwave is leaking radiation, never try to repair this appliance yourself. Take the microwave to a professional for repair. All things considered though, the microwave oven is fairly inexpensive these days it may be a better idea to just purchase a new one.
Don’t assume that because your microwave is fairly new that it can not be leaking radiation. Any microwave can leak radiation if the gasket becomes damaged or dirty.
In conclusion, there are risks involved with many appliances that we use in our homes. If we use the product according to the manufacturers’ instructions and take a common sense approach, we can enjoy the convenience of the product and also stay safe.
