Microwave ovens are a source of radiation, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established emission standards for any microwave appliance on the domestic market. The permissible limits are 5 milliwatts of radiation per square centimeter, measured at two inches from the oven surface. The manufacturers believe these ovens are perfectly safe for home use, whether the user is pregnant or not. And, of course, like VDT’s, microwaves have become very much established as part of modern lifestyle.
The only potential hazard lies in increasing these small levels of radiation, which should be added to the emission from a smoke detector in your house or apartment. If you use the microwave daily, be cautious; make sure you don’t stay around the oven when it is in use. And certainly don’t lean against it while chatting on the kitchen phone, for example. If in doubt, get someone else to do the cooking.
