What are the dangers of microwave radiation?

Answer 1

In general, microwaves are harmful if they are very powerful and concentrated. All of our ordinary microwave-emitting devices are perfectly safe to use because they are very low power. A microwave oven doesn't release enough of the energy to cause harm when the door is properly closed - hence, a microwave that functions with a door open could be potentially harmful.

Very powerful microwaves are harmful because they cause burns. Microwave radiation, despite popular claims, does not cause cancer or any other illness associated with exposure to ionizing radiation. Microwaves from cell phones, for example, are not powerful and concentrated enough to cause harm.

In themselves, other than high power exposure - several kilowatts - that's many more times than what is inside an operating microwave oven, microwaves are not dangerous. However, injuries can occur from overheated foods - burns, scalds, eruptions and fires.