Are microwaves a major potential risk factor for cancer?

Molly Vickers

I have heard over the years that microwaves can cause cancer. According to cancerreasearchuk.org, microwave ovens are not a safety risk in regards to cancer. Many people worry about this because of the radiation that microwaves produce. However, "Microwave ovens don't make food radioactive. They just heat them. Microwave ovens heat food by producing radiation which is absorbed by water molecules in the food. This makes the water molecules vibrate and produce heat, which cooks the food." It scares people when they hear the word radiation because it is almost always mentioned when discussing types of cancer. Radiation is simply the release of energy. This release of energy can come from any source. Radiation that is most commonly talked about is ionizing radiation, which can be harmful when it gets into the cells and changes the way that those cells work. According to this website, with a modern day microwave that is in good condition, this is not something to worry about.

Source:
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/radiation-microwaves-and-cancer