Measurement of radiation leakage from microwave ovens

Abstract

Electromagnetic radiation from microwave ovens in Bangkok areas were investigated by microwave leakage detector model No. MD 2000. The survey was carried out for 738 ovens used in households, restaurants and convenient stores from December 2002 to September 2004. The ovens were from 1 year to more than 10 years old with operating power ranging from 700 to 1000 watt. The measured leakage was 0.235 ± 0.662 mW/cm2 and 0.196 ± 0.607 mW/cm2 without and with water test load respectively. Five ovens (0.68%) were found to leak more than 5 mW/cm2 limit specified in the standard. The maximum leakage was found at the door screen in a higher percentage (97.4%) of the surveyed ovens but still within the acceptable limit. In relation to user type, none of the convenience store ovens (4.61%) and restaurant ovens (3.79%) emitted radiation exceeding the limit. In 91.6% of the household ovens, only 0.7% emitted radiation more than 5 mW/cm2. Ovens used in restaurant are older than the household and convenience store ovens and had a higher operating power. Statistical analysis by two-way ANOVA showed that there is no relationship between the quantity of radiation leakage and oven age but significantly related to their operating power (p<0.05). Based on the statistical calculations, 97% of the ovens emit less than the public exposure limit set by most international standards (1 mW/cm2) and only 0.68% emit more than the occupational exposure limit of 5 mW/cm2. Based on the findings in this study and due to the safety of microwave oven design to comply to standards and regulations, no detrimental health effects are expected from microwave ovens in our survey. However, Thailand should have its own standards and regulations to limit radiation from microwave ovens used in the country.;"การศึกษาวิจัยนี้เพื่อตรวจวัดคลื่นแม่เหล็กไฟฟ้าจากเตาไมโครเวฟในกรุงเทพฯ โดยใช้เครื่องตรวจวัด คลื่นไมโครเวฟรั่ว รุ่น MD-2000 เตาไมโครเวฟที่สำรวจมีจำนวน 738 เครื่อง ที่ได้มาจากบ้านเรือนทั่วไป ร้านค้า และร้านสะดวกซื้อ ในช่วงเดือนธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2545 ถึง เดือนพฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2547 เตาไมโครเวฟที่ สำรวจได้มีช่วงอายุการใช้งานตั้งแต่ 1 ปี ถึง "