Dangerous or not? That is the million dollar question. Cancers have overtaken infectious diseases as the leading cause of death in humans. Preventable factors more than your genetic makeup are the major causes of cancer and other illnesses. If you know how to reduce these risks, I bet you would.
The microwave oven is a convenient way to thaw, cook, and reheat food. Frequently used in restaurants, schools and homes, the microwave oven is also super-fast when compared to conventional heating. This is so because microwaves (a form of radiofrequency electromagnetic energy) penetrate food and once in, they make the water molecules in the food rotate. This rotation causes friction which in turn causes a rapid rise in temperature that warms your food.
The problem and perhaps the bone of contention is with plastics holding food in the microwave. In the process of manufacturing plastic, different chemicals are used and some of these may cause cancer. It is possible that some of these chemicals may leak out of the container into the food it holds.
Bisphenol-A (BPA) makes plastic hard and clear while Phthalates make plastic soft and flexible. Both are believed to be “endocrine disrupters”. These chemicals could disrupt the normal functioning of your hormones and the development of reproductive and neurological systems. It has also been associated with prostate and breast cancer.
In industrialized nations like Canada and the US, there are agencies that regulate plastic containers and materials that come into contact with food and certain requirements must be met before approving a container for microwave use. It is reasonable to say that in these countries plastic that is labelled ‘microwave safe’ can be used without worry.
However, this does not apply to every plastic container. Most plastic containers, baby bottles, water bottles, and plastic jars that held butter, margarine or yogurt should be avoided. If the label doesn’t say it is microwave safe, then it means it isn’t.
If you live in developing countries where there are no systems in place to monitor the quality of plastic manufacturing and plastic imports, I would suggest you assume that all plastics are not safe for microwave use. Use glass and ceramic plates instead. If you can’t find a proper plastic microwave cover, don’t just use any plastic. Don’t cover (sorry this means your food will not heat up evenly) or cover with another glass plate if you must.
Please note that plastic containers designed for storing food are not usually designed for microwave use. Furthermore, pay attention when using the microwave oven because when you burn your food in a microwave, you are exposing yourself to dangerous dioxins.
Remember that old, cracked, scratched plastic containers or plastic containers that have microwaved many times are likely to release more endocrine disrupting chemicals.
Microwaves are not x-rays nor are they radioactive. Once you switch off the oven, the microwaves disappear and they do not attach to your food or the oven. However, some microwaves leak out while the oven is in use but these are so little and pose no risk if your microwave oven is well maintained.
If your oven’s door is damaged or there is a lot of dirt around the door seal, the risk of your exposure to microwave energy will increase so make sure the oven door and seal remain clean at all times and do not use the oven if the door is damaged in any way.
If your microwave is faulty, use only qualified service technicians for all repairs of your oven but these kinds of technicians are likely to be few or may not exist in most of the developing countries. If I live in such a country and my oven develops a fault, I would probably just buy a new oven.
Technology is only great when used correctly.
