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Microwave oven

Belongs to:
Home
Synonyms:
Microwave
Description:

A domestic microwave oven heats food through the conversion of electromagnetic field energy into thermal energy. Molecules, such as water, with an electric dipole moment and a rotatable dipole carry out a rotary movement when irradiated with microwaves. Adjacent molecules equally get the same torque and produce heat due to the extreme friction. Microwave ovens are operated at 2.45 GHz. For the generation of electromagnetic fields at that operating frequency, magnetrons are used.

Microwave oven comprises measurement results of both domestic and industrial microwave ovens. While domestic microwaves primarily operate at a frequency of 2.45 GHz to heat food, industrial microwaves at 915 MHz or 2.45 GHz are, for example, used to generate plasma. Another fundamental frequency is 5.8 GHz.

Frequency ranges:
  • 915 MHz–5.8 GHz
Type of field:
electromagnetic

Measurements (acc. to literature)

domestic microwave oven
Measurand Value Feature Remarks
electric field strength 17 V/m (maximum, measured) 100 kHz - 3 GHz maximal value of 11 devices, distance: 20 cm. [1]
electric field strength 55.2 V/m (maximum, measured) 100 kHz - 3 GHz maximal value of 11 devices, distance: 5 cm. [1]
electric field strength 1–2 V/m (maximum) - typical values at a distance of 1 m [14]
electric field strength 117.2 V/m (maximum) - measured maximum value [15]
electric field strength 121.3 V/m (maximum) - measured maximum value [15]
magnetic flux density 0.07103 µT (mean, calculated) calculated for 50 Hz resp. 60 Hz spatial average at a distance of 30 - 305 cm [2]
magnetic flux density 0.1–20 µT (maximum) measurement bandwidth: 20 - 2000 Hz at a distance of 30 cm [3]
magnetic flux density 0.25–0.6 µT (maximum) - at a distance of 1 m [4]
magnetic flux density 0.68 µT (maximum) - mean exposure during use [5]
magnetic flux density 1.04 µT (maximum) - at a distance of 75 cm [6]
magnetic flux density 1.65 µT (maximum) - at a distance of 50 cm [7]
magnetic flux density 1.7 µT (maximum) measurement bandwidth: 20 - 2000 Hz at a distance of 56 cm [3]
magnetic flux density 2.88 µT measurement bandwidth: 0 - 3000 Hz average value of 15 different microwaves at a distance of 50 cm [8]
magnetic flux density 3 µT (maximum) calculated for 50 Hz resp. 60 Hz maximum value at a distance of 80 cm [9]
magnetic flux density 4–8 µT (maximum) - at a distance of 30 cm [4]
magnetic flux density 9 µT measurement bandwidth: 0 - 3000 Hz at a distance of 20 cm [8]
magnetic flux density 10–30 µT (maximum) - at a distance of 15 cm [10]
magnetic flux density 10.5 µT (maximum) calculated for 50 Hz resp. 60 Hz maximum value at a distance of 40 cm [9]
magnetic flux density 16.03 µT measurement bandwidth: 0 - 3000 Hz average values of 15 different microwaves at a distance of 10 cm [8]
magnetic flux density 20–0.2 µT (maximum) - at a distance between 15 - 120 cm [11]
magnetic flux density 45 µT (maximum, calculated) calculated for 50 Hz resp. 60 Hz maximum value directly in front of the device [9]
magnetic flux density 73–200 µT (maximum) - at a distance of 3 cm [4]
magnetic flux density 200–1,110 µT (maximum) - - [12]
magnetic flux density 710 µT (maximum, calculated) calcualted for 50 Hz maximum value at the surface [13]
power density 0.04 mW/cm² (mean, measured) calibration frequency of the measurement device: 2.45 GHz leakage of 1 microwave (in a reatraurants) of an age of 4 months in France; average power: 850 W [16]
power density 0.5 W/m² (maximum) - at a distance of 50 cm [17]
power density 0.5–2 W/m² (maximum) - at a distance of 60 cm [18]
power density 0.1 mW/cm² (mean, measured) calibration frequency of the measurement device: 2.45 GHz maximum leakage of 14 microwaves (5 in homes, 9 in reatraurants) of an average age of 26.4 months in Korea; average power: 1071 W [16]
power density 0.19 mW/cm² (mean, measured) calibration frequency of the measurement device: 2.45 GHz maximum leakage of 3 microwaves (1 in a home, 2 in reatraurants) of an average age of 34.7 months in Canada; average power: 867 W [16]
power density 0.3 mW/cm² (mean, measured) calibration frequency of the measurement device: 2.45 GHz maximum leakage of 2 microwaves (both in reatraurants) of an average age of 15 months in Switzerland; average power: 4400 W [16]
power density 0.35 mW/cm² (mean, measured) calibration frequency of the measurement device: 2.45 GHz maximum leakage of 33 microwaves (10 in homes, 23 in reatraurants) of an average age of 38 months in Japan; average power: 1296 W [16]
power density 0.4 mW/cm² (maximum, measured) calibration frequency of the measurement device: 2.45 GHz maximum leakage value of 21 microwave ovens of an age < 1 year in Saudi Arabia, average power: 1221 W [16]
power density 0.55 mW/cm² (mean, measured) calibration frequency of the measurement device: 2.45 GHz maximum leakage of 53 microwaves (10 in homes, 43 in reatraurants) of an average age of 49.7 months in the US; average power: 1183 W [16]
power density 0.7 mW/cm² (maximum, measured) calibration frequency of the measurement device: 2.45 GHz maximum leakage of 17 microwaves (3 in homes, 14 in reatraurants) of an average age of 4 - 5 years in Saudi Arabia; average power: 1071 W [16]
power density 2 mW/cm² (maximum, measured) calibration frequency of the measurement device: 2.45 GHz maximum leakage of 2 microwaves (both in reatraurants) of an average age of 7 - 8 years in Saudi Arabia; average power: 1225 W [16]
power density 3 mW/cm² (maximum, measured) calibration frequency of the measurement device: 2.45 GHz maximum leakage of 9 microwaves (all of them in reatraurants) of an average age of 8 - 9 years in Saudi Arabia; average power: 1071 W [16]
power density 50 W/m² (maximum) - at a distance of 5 cm [18]
power density 6 mW/cm² (maximum, measured) calibration frequency of the measurement device: 2.45 GHz - [16]
power 1,176–1,206 W (maximum) - power output [19]
industrial microwave oven
Measurand Value Feature Remarks
electric field strength 10–300 V/m (maximum) - in the working area [20]
power 0.5–1.5 kW (maximum) - - [17]

References

  1. Plets D et al. (2016): Exposure assessment of microwave ovens and impact on total exposure in WLANs
  2. Mader DL et al. (1992): Residential exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields from appliances
  3. National Research Council (NRC) (1997): Possible health effects of exposure to residential electric and magnetic fields
  4. No authors listed (2019): [Radiation and radiation protection]
  5. Mezei G et al. (2001): Household appliance use and residential exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields
  6. Behrens T et al. (2004): Quantification of lifetime accumulated ELF-EMF exposure from household appliances in the context of a retrospective epidemiological case-control study
  7. Preece AW et al. (1999): Assessment of Human Exposure to Magnetic Fields Produced by Domestic Appliances
  8. Ainsbury EA et al. (2005): An investigation into the vector ellipticity of extremely low frequency magnetic fields from appliances in UK homes
  9. Farag AS et al. (1998): Electromagnetic fields in the home
  10. Rickli H et al. (2003): Induction ovens and electromagnetic interference: what is the risk for patients with implanted pacemakers?
  11. Lacy-Hulbert A et al. (1998): Biological responses to electromagnetic fields
  12. Leitgeb N et al. (2008): Magnetic emissions of electric appliances
  13. Leitgeb N et al. (2008): Magnetic emission ranking of electrical appliances. A comprehensive market survey
  14. Mantiply ED et al. (1997): Summary of measured radiofrequency electric and magnetic fields (10 kHz to 30 GHz) in the general and work environment
  15. Hanada E et al. (2004): Safe introduction of in-hospital wireless LAN
  16. Alhekail ZO (2001): Electromagnetic radiation from microwave ovens
  17. Swerdlow AJ et al. (2012): Health Effects from Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields - RCE 20
  18. Electric Power Engineering Centre (EPECentre) (2012): Health and safety aspects of electricity smart meters. A study into potential health effects of radio frequency emissions from smart meters
  19. Goksoy EO et al. (1999): Non-uniformity of surface temperatures after microwave heating of poultry meat
  20. Moser M et al. (2006): [Non-ionizing radiation and health protection in Switzerland: basic information]