Are microwaves dangerous?

When used correctly, microwaves are not directly dangerous to humans; however, microwaves can cause indirect harm when cooking certain foods. The FDA limits the amount of microwave radiation that can be emitted from the household appliance to 5 milliwatts of radiation. This lies far below the danger level to humans.

Microwaves, however, can alter the plastics in which foods are stored. When heated in a microwave, these plastics release a toxin called bisphenol A. BPA has been found to trick the body into believing it is the hormone estrogen, and it can cause health problems for children and infants. Microwaves sometimes do heat food unevenly, which can be a danger when cooking raw meats.