# Are microwaves dangerous? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 20, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-microwaves-dangerous/518337 "2009-11-20T21:27:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-microwaves-dangerous/518337/41 "2009-11-23T11:58:58Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > The microwave uses (according to Google) 2.45Ghs which is in the middle of the wifi frequencies. This is the resonant frequency IIRC of the hydrogen-oxygen bond in water, so it has the effect of boiling things by heating the water molecules. Things that are fairly dry do not heat well. (or have just fat, not water). The waves don’t penetrate too far into the payload, so heating deeper than a half inch or inch or so requires good old conduction. The shorter the waves, the shallower the penetration. About resonant frequencies: > [@](#): > > It’s a common misconception that the microwaves in a microwave oven excite a natural resonance in water. [How everything works.](http://www.howeverythingworks.org/page1.php?QNum=1456) ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-microwaves-dangerous/518337/42 "2009-11-24T09:35:01Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > ARE YOU DISPUTING WHAT I WROTE OR ARE YOU NOT? > > Because you claimed that you were disputing it. And now you seem to be saying that you aren’t disputing it. > > This is important because ff you are no longer disputing it then I have cured your ignorance on this issue. But if you are disputing what I have written then I still have some way to go to cure your ignorance. > > So can I please have a straight answer: > > ARE YOU DISPUTING WHAT I WROTE OR ARE YOU NOT? > Because I say again: these are not statements that are open to dispute. They are facts so easily verified by such a wealth of information that it would take an act of willful ignorance to dispute them. Your rather rude shouting and accusations of “willful ignorance” aside, I don’t think it’s actually true that “We know RF radiation can cause DNA damage”, as you claimed. If you look carefully at the list of articles you linked to, some of them claim evidence of DNA damage and others claim not to find such evidence under similar conditions. ---
**Author:** ![beo.thuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@beo.thuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beo.thuck)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-microwaves-dangerous/518337/43 "2009-11-24T10:40:25Z")
yea, just yea. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-microwaves-dangerous/518337/44 "2009-11-24T11:13:55Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > The microwave uses (according to Google) 2.45Ghs which is in the middle of the wifi frequencies. So let’s hope that the person mentioned in the OP wears their full-body Bacofoil suit any time they go any place with WiFi. :rolleyes: The microwave/wireless internet problem, is, of course, [well documented and expoited](http://xkcd.com/654/). ---
**Author:** ![Random\_Design](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58f4c7/32.png) [@Random\_Design](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random_Design)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-microwaves-dangerous/518337/45 "2009-11-24T14:49:09Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > They tracked over 400,000 people who used cell phones over a period of ten years As Blake has pointed out, ten years or even 20 or 30 is hardly a significant amount of time to study affects like those possible from radiation. In a few centuries, if the research still suggested there was no link between EM radiation and cancer, then it would be safe(r) to say there really was no link. At this point, as with so many fields of research regarding cause/effect in humans, it’s too early to say anything with any degree of certainty. ---
**Author:** ![beo.thuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@beo.thuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beo.thuck)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2009, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-microwaves-dangerous/518337/46 "2009-11-27T05:17:36Z")
> [@beo.thuck](#): > > yea, just yea. I have a new habit, its actually reading what other posters wrote before responding to the Original Poster (OP). So I’m editing my suspicion. Whoever has evidence of damage prove it my linking to a consensus of scientific peers or stop being so sure. I mean they may be dangerous, cell phones and power lines, but show me the proof as accepted by smart logical people or stop being so sure. I’m going to wipe down my microwave seal in the meanwhile.. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-microwaves-dangerous/518337/48 "2019-07-12T11:30:12Z")
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