Donate to Raghavendra Brindavan
Download
Tamil Fonts
|
Aren't you surprised to know that it was the Nazis who invented the Microwave oven that provides a convenient, quick and efficient method of cooking and reheating food? The Nazis, for their mobile operations, originally developed microwave "radiomissor" cooking ovens to be used for the invasion of Russia. Today their ease of operation and timesaving properties has made microwave ovens popular. While few would dispute their convenience, the users should be concerned about the safety of their use.
 There is no solid evidence to show that microwaves cause any effect on food other than those due to rapid heating. Care should be taken to avoid overcooking. Microwave oven users are often concerned about potential health hazards from the exposure to microwave radiation leakage. With the latest techno-logical advances and with proper maintenance, microwave oven hazards can be greatly minimized or eliminated. Microwave ovens are less likely to cause burns than are conventional ovens. However the potential hazard of burns associated with microwave cooking is not often considered, and many people allow young children to operate these appliances unsupervised.
Burns have occurred from the steam emitted from microwaveable popcorn bags and similar closed packages and from the boiling portions of foods which heat unevenly. An example of this is a jam-filled donut; the jam center may exceed the boiling point of water while the donut itself is only warm. Frozen macaroni cheese is another example as the cheese reaches a high temperature more quickly and retains more heat than the macaroni. Severe scalding has also occurred when babies have been given milk heated in a microwave oven.
When using new crockery for the first time in a microwave oven, use oven gloves to remove the item after heating, until you are aware of its heating characteristics. There have been instances when some types of crockery mugs have absorbed more heat than the liquid they contained causing unexpected burns. Only utensils designed for the purpose should be used in a microwave oven. Some additives used in the manufacture of plastics, particularly those that make it pliable, may migrate into food, especially at high temperatures. They should be discarded when the surface shows any signs of breaking down.
Generally speaking, exposure to very high levels of microwave radiation can result in significant amounts of energy being absorbed by the body. Just as with food, this energy is transformed into heat in the body. Sensitive body parts, such as the eyes, testes and brain, are not able to get rid of the extra heat that may build up. Heart pacemakers are electronic devices and interference from other electrical sources can cause the pacemaker to malfunction and thus send incorrect information to the heart muscles. Patients with pacemakers should consult their doctor if they have a problem related to microwave or radio-frequency radiation.
 Safety tips for operation of microwave ovens:
- Do not operate oven when empty.
- Exercise extreme caution if you have a pacemaker implant. Microwave radiation may cause pacemaker interference.
- Persons with pacemaker implants should not be near a microwave oven unless they are sure that it is in good operating condition and there is no leakage of microwave radiation.
- Check to see that the door seal and inside surfaces of the door and oven cavity are clean after each use.
- Keep out of reach of children. Do not permit young children to operate the oven.
- Do not put your face close to the door/window when oven is operating.
- Take special care to ensure that no damage occurs to the part of the oven making contact with the door or door seals.
- Ensure that the microwave is unplugged or disconnected from electrical power before reaching into any accessible openings or attempting any repairs.
- Ensure that the adjustment of applied voltages, replacement of the microwave power-generating component, dismantling of the oven components, and refitting of wave guides are undertaken only by persons who have been specially trained for such tasks.
- The services of a qualified repairman should be sought when any malfunction is suspected.
Do not bypass the door interlocks.
- Do not attempt to operate a microwave oven with the door open since open-door operation can result in harmful exposure to microwave energy.
- Do not place any object between the oven front face and the door or allow soil or cleaner residue to accumulate on sealing surfaces.
- Do not operate the oven if it is damaged. It is particularly important that the oven door be closed properly and that there is no damage to the: (1) Door (bent), (2) hinges and latches (broken or loosened), (3) door seals and sealing surfaces.
- The oven should not be adjusted or repaired by anyone except properly qualified service personnel.
In case of modern conveniences, the benefits have to be weighed against hazards, risks against rewards and sometimes this can be a delicate and a controversial balance. While these devices must be used at one’s own risk, the application of common sense and caution will certainly minimize the risk factor.
Anoop Khanna
Asst. Manager (PR)
For further details contact:
Loss Prevention Association of India Ltd., (LPA)
Seethakathi Chambers, ( 4th Floor)
688, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 006.
Phone : 8524648, 8523920.
Fax: 8523746.
More Articles |
