Is my microwave harmful

CLARiiON

Hey,
Did a test to see was my microwave secure/safe.
I place my mobile phone in the microwave, closed it and phoned it.
It rang!

We've an old microwave, not been used any more and I carried out the same test.
It didn't ring!!

My question, is it a valid test to see if microwaves are getting despensed out of the oven?
And if so, is it harmful [I'm guessing it is]

Tried seaching for this but without any luck [apologies if its a repost]
Thanks

d'Oracle

This would probably be better on the physics forum.....

deegs

Well they all work based on electromagnetic radiation... radio waves at a vertain frequency that vibrate water molecules in "stuff".

SO does your radio, wifi and sunlight. Not all the radiation is bad. It depends on the frequency and intensity, but your exposed to pretty much everything in the spectrum anyway.

You need to find out what frequency your microwave shields and what frequency your phone operates on, quite possibly there is no need to shield that level emitted by your phone.

As long as ye are not glowing at night I'd say your fine, why not go into harvey norman and see if your phone works in other microwaves?

You would feel heat from the microwave if there was an actual leak.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056168021

Also

The Food and Drug Administration sets strict limits on all microwaves sold in the United States. FDA officials say the machines can emit no more that 5 milliwatts of radiation per centimeter over the course of their lifetime. That is well below the limits of acceptable exposure. In fact, scientists say you are bombarded with more microwave energy when you venture outside.

Most scientists agree that while your microwave oven may expose you to extremely small amounts of radiation, it's not something that can cause you harm.

After all cell phones, computers and wireless internet routers expose you radio frequency energy. Even television and radio station use radio frequencies to beam pictures and sound to your home.

Read more: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_central_southern_az/other/urban-legend:-does-your-microwave-leak-radiation#ixzz1j2cYubpp

From: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_central_southern_az/other/urban-legend:-does-your-microwave-leak-radiation

deegs

-

Dude111

CLARiiON wrote:

We've an old microwave, not been used any more and I carried out the same test.
It didn't ring!!

Makes sense as OLDER STUFF was made better!!

I try to avoid using the microwave IF I CAN because it destroys the goodness in food (Proteins,etc) and makes it soggy and no good!!

Doug Cartel

deegs wrote: »

You need to find out what frequency your microwave shields and what frequency your phone operates on, quite possibly there is no need to shield that level emitted by your phone.

The phone operates on 800-1000MHz, the oven at about 2100MHz. I would expect a microwave oven of doing a good job of shielding a phone signal, but I wouldn't expect it to be perfect.

Has the microwave taken any knocks over the years? How tightly does the door shut?

deegs

Doug Cartel wrote: »

The phone operates on 800-1000MHz, the oven at about 2100MHz. I would expect a microwave oven of doing a good job of shielding a phone signal, but I wouldn't expect it to be perfect.

Has the microwave taken any knocks over the years? How tightly does the door shut?

True, but big difference in 2g vs 3g freqeuncies, Perhaps its a 2g phone or on a 2g network? 3g operates at 2100 so I guess thats more likely to be shielded?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM

Doug Cartel

deegs wrote: »

True, but big difference in 2g vs 3g freqeuncies, Perhaps its a 2g phone or on a 2g network? 3g operates at 2100 so I guess thats more likely to be shielded?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM

Phones usually switch to 2g automatically if they can't get a 3g signal. If you had the phone set to only use 3g and you could still ring it, then I would be worried about the shielding.

EDIT: Actually it looks like microwave ovens run at about 2400MHz.

Orando Broom

how many reps did you do with the phone in the microwave?

Barry.Oglesby

Dude111 wrote: »

Makes sense as OLDER STUFF was made better!!

I try to avoid using the microwave IF I CAN because it destroys the goodness in food (Proteins,etc) and makes it soggy and no good!!

Whatever about soggy, it doesn't destroy proteins anymore than your conventional oven does.

We do know that all heat is radiation right?

Dublin_Gunner

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

Whatever about soggy, it doesn't destroy proteins anymore than your conventional oven does.

We do know that all heat is radiation right?

I think it's more to do with HOW the heat is transferred to the food.

Barry.Oglesby

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

I think it's more to do with HOW the heat is transferred to the food.

Through microwaves as opposed to convection? What difference do you think that makes? I think Vit B is rendered inactive by microwave radiation but that's about it.

Dublin_Gunner

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

Through microwaves as opposed to convection? What difference do you think that makes? I think Vit B is rendered inactive by microwave radiation but that's about it.

Possibly. Though I must admit it was a mere assumption on my part, not knowing much about the subject tbh.

Brian?

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

I think it's more to do with HOW the heat is transferred to the food.

Through microwaves as opposed to convection? What difference do you think that makes? I think Vit B is rendered inactive by microwave radiation but that's about it.

Microwaves excite the bond between hydrogen and oxygen in water. This vibration causes heating within the food. I can't see this doing anything to nutrients in food, but I ain't no scientician.

Unlike gamma/x/beta rays microwave is non ionising radiation. It can only do you harm at high powers through heating you up inside.

Doug Cartel

I've herd that microwaves actually do less damage to food's nutritional values, because it spends less time cooking.

There's also the issue of charring; despite being delicious, I keep hearing that it's bad for you. Microwaves don't cause charring, so I guess that may be a plus, if you're into that kind of thing.

Orando Broom

I would have thought that you all would have welcomed the giant-making side effects of radiation.

Doug Cartel

Orando Broom wrote: »

I would have thought that you all would have welcomed the giant-making side effects of radiation.

Wrong end of the spectrum, Broseph.

cc87

if there was something wrong with microwaves wouldnt we already know of the side effects?? Particularly since so much food that babies have is designed to be heated on the microwave and i dont think any of them have started glowing yet

JJayoo

Just make sure your standing next to a really cool animal.

rubadub

Doug Cartel wrote: »

I've herd that microwaves actually do less damage to food's nutritional values, because it spends less time cooking.

Whenever I see claims it destroys nutrients etc I never see times mentioned. Perhaps it a tiny amount of food was microwaved for 24hrs it might destroy it all. But some people blankly say it destroys them all, then you question them if 1 second on low power will destroy all nutrients in a kilo of oranges and they suddenly shut up...

snopes is brimming with microwave stories. Including this phone suggestion.

http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=67936

amen

We do know that all heat is radiation right

I don't think so. You can have a heat given off when you mix certain chemicals. Not radiation involved.

Main oven doesn't use radiation. Electricity heats the elements air warms up and cooks the food (convective heat). No radiation involved

deegs

Few peeps could read this too
http://www.trainenergy-iee.eu/cms/upload/Download-Docs/english/tradesman/Module%202.2%20-%20Heat%20transfer%20mechanisms.pdf

Barry.Oglesby

amen wrote: »

I don't think so. You can have a heat given off when you mix certain chemicals. Not radiation involved.

Main oven doesn't use radiation. Electricity heats the elements air warms up and cooks the food (convective heat). No radiation involved

Touché!

I was referring to the heat he feels as he walks around in summertime, but I probably should have made that clearer.

Barry.Oglesby

briankeating wrote: »

Microwaves excite the bond between hydrogen and oxygen in water. This vibration causes heating within the food. I can't see this doing anything to nutrients in food, but I ain't no scientician.

Unlike gamma/x/beta rays microwave is non ionising radiation. It can only do you harm at high powers through heating you up inside.

They DEEEESTROY Vit B12 apparently, though I am also no scientician. People drop dead from B12 deficiencies every day thanks to excessive microwave cooking.

Brian?

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

They DEEEESTROY Vit B12 apparently, though I am also no scientician. People drop dead from B12 deficiencies every day thanks to excessive microwave cooking.

Does that mean vegans neutralise microwaves?

Quiet you

amen wrote: »

I don't think so. You can have a heat given off when you mix certain chemicals. Not radiation involved.

Main oven doesn't use radiation. Electricity heats the elements air warms up and cooks the food (convective heat). No radiation involved

Heat is radiated from either the element or friction created due to the reaction of the chemicals so radiation is involved.

Without trying to sound smart radiators are called radiators becasue they radiate heat.

Brian?

Quiet you wrote: »

Heat is radiated from either the element or friction created due to the reaction of the chemicals so radiation is involved.

Without trying to sound smart radiators are called radiators becasue they radiate heat.

The heat transfer from radiators is predominantly from convection, not radiation. Badly named them radiators.

mushykeogh

briankeating wrote: »

The heat transfer from radiators is predominantly from convection, not radiation. Badly named them radiators.

Convectionators are clearly the future.

deegs

briankeating wrote: »

The heat transfer from radiators is predominantly from convection, not radiation. Badly named them radiators.

Its a mix, its transferred by radiation, but dispersed with convection, I'm sure there is even an element of conduction there aswell (rad's made of metal at least). It doesn't have to be just one or the other.
In fact, after the heat is dispersed by convection (from a rad into a room lets say), its conduction that would transfer the heat from the air to a window or wall lets say... then again the wall or window would (without good insulation which would inhibit heat transfer) radiate the heat to a less warm source... such as outside air...

Ahhh... actually... perhaps this thread has been derailed?

Buy a new oven and phone and you should be sorted

TheZ

Did USSR ban microwave ovens in the 70s? Was it for health reasons?

Dude111

I think it was,im not sure though...

I'd like to share a good article with you all!

http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/microwave-ovens-destroy-the-nutritional-value-of-your-food

28064212

Dude111 wrote: »

I think it was,im not sure though...

I'd like to share a good article with you all!

http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/microwave-ovens-destroy-the-nutritional-value-of-your-food

Let's see....

Humans are the only animals on the planet who destroy the nutritional value of their food before eating it. All other animals consume food in its natural, unprocessed state

Ah, so we should be eating our meat raw, that's bound to cut down on deaths

The invention of the microwave and its mass adoption by the population coincides with the onset of obesity in developed nations around the world.

Yes, and the decline in pirates caused global warming :rolleyes:

It’s the same thing (just a different wavelength of radiation)

Right, so we're all getting microwaved by our TVs and radios, right? It's just a different wavelength after all

The microwave is the appliance of the living dead

....I have no words

See my book Superfood Smoothies for recipes

Oh what a surprise, he's selling something.

Dude111 wrote: »

I'd like to share a good article with you all!

An article without a single source or coherent argument does not make for a "good" article

Dude111

But its the truth,wheather you wanna deny it is up to you

28064212

Dude111 wrote: »

But its the truth,wheather you wanna deny it is up to you

Oh, it's THE TRUTH!? Well why didn't you say so? If I had known it was THE TRUTH, I wouldn't have bothered pointing out all the absurdly wrong things with it

rubadub

I had a good laugh reading it all the same, reminds me of the onion or something.

Dude111

28064212 wrote:

Ah, so we should be eating our meat raw, that's bound to cut down on deaths

No we should spend the extra few minutes and cook stuff IN AN OVEN or on the stove (Comes out better anyway,cooked ALL THRU,etc)

Mark Hamill

Thought this article from The Harvard Medical School might have some relevant information for some people:

Microwave cooking and nutrition

Almost every American home has one. The convenience offered by owning a microwave oven is almost undeniable. But there remains a level of skepticism for many—a lingering feeling that using a microwave to cook food may somehow make food less healthy. Does cooking with a microwave take nutrients out of food?

Understanding how microwaves work can help clarify the answer to this common question. Microwave ovens cook food with waves of oscillating electromagnetic energy that are similar to radio waves but move back and forth at a much faster rate. These quicker waves are remarkably selective, primarily affecting molecules that are electrically asymmetrical — one end positively charged and the other negatively so. Chemists refer to that as a polarity. Water is a polar molecule, so when a microwave oven cooks or heats up food, it does so mainly by energizing — which is to say, heating up — water molecules, and the water energizes its molecular neighbors.

In addition to being more selective, microwave-oven energy is also more penetrating than heat that emanates from an oven or stovetop. It immediately reaches molecules about an inch or so below the surface. In contrast, regular cooking heat goes through food rather slowly, moving inward from the outside by process of conduction.

Some nutrients do break down when they’re exposed to heat, whether it is from a microwave or a regular oven. Vitamin C is perhaps the clearest example. So, as a general proposition, cooking with a microwave probably does a better job of preserving the nutrient content of foods because the cooking times are shorter.

As far as vegetables go, it’s cooking them in water that robs them of some of their nutritional value because the nutrients leach out into the cooking water. For example, boiled broccoli loses glucosinolate, the sulfur-containing compound that may give the vegetable its cancer-fighting properties as well as the taste that many find distinctive and some, disgusting. The nutrient-rich water from boiled vegetables can be salvaged and incorporated into sauces or soups.

Is steaming vegetables better? In some respects, yes. For example, steamed broccoli holds on to more glucosinolate than boiled or fried broccoli.

But this is nutrition, and nothing in nutrition is simple. Italian researchers published results in 2008 of an experiment comparing three cooking methods — boiling, steaming, and frying — and the effect they had on the nutritional content of broccoli, carrots, and zucchini. Boiling carrots actually increased their carotenoid content, while steaming and frying reduced it. Carotenoids are compounds like lutein, which may be good for the eyes, and beta carotene. One possible explanation is that it takes longer for vegetables to get tender when they’re steamed, so the extra cooking time results in more degradation of some nutrients and longer exposure to oxygen and light.

But let’s not get too lost in the details. Vegetables, pretty much any way you prepare them, are good for you, and most of us don’t eat enough of them. And the microwave oven? A marvel of engineering, a miracle of convenience — and sometimes nutritionally advantageous to boot.

28064212

Dude111 wrote: »

No we should spend the extra few minutes and cook stuff IN AN OVEN or on the stove (Comes out better anyway,cooked ALL THRU,etc)

That's not what the article says:

All other animals consume food in its natural, unprocessed state

All other animals consume their food raw. Therefore humans should eat it raw. That is what the article says

Dude111

I reckon its TOO DANGEROUS to eat it raw.. (Maybe im wrong who knows (TASTES BETTER WARM/HOT I WILL SAY THAT!))

28064212

Dude111 wrote: »

I reckon its TOO DANGEROUS to eat it raw.. (Maybe im wrong who knows (TASTES BETTER WARM/HOT I WILL SAY THAT!))

No shit. If you disagree with the article, why did you post it?