Can I stand next to a microwave?

THE CLAIM: People shouldn't stand too close to a microwave

THE FACTS: Considering how long microwave ovens have been around, one would think that any concerns about their safety would have been resolved long ago. But many people continue to wonder whether standing next to a microwave while it's on can expose them to radiation - and if so, how much.

Although microwave ovens can in fact leak radiation, the levels that might be released are fairly minute.

According to the Centre for Devices and Radiological Health, a unit of the Food and Drug Administration, that regulates microwave oven safety, every microwave that reaches the market must meet a requirement limiting the amount of radiation it can leak in its lifetime to five milliwatts per square centimetre at roughly two inches away from the oven.

According to the centre, that is far below the levels of radiation that have been shown to harm humans.(By comparison, the most common cellphones operate at a peak power of about 1.6 watts or less, and most studies have found no evidence linking the phones to health problems.)

Manufacturers of microwave ovens are also required to line the doors of the machines with metal mesh that prevents microwaves from escaping, and to use a type of door latch that stops the production of microwaves whenever the latch is released.

Those features greatly limit exposure to levels of radiation that are already low. And since the radiation levels drop sharply with increasing distance, the levels two feet away are about one-hundredth the amount at two inches.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Proximity to a microwave oven is not dangerous.

Source: NEW YORK TIMES