I was wondering what the effects of a leaky microwave oven would be on a person. Thank you for your time. In other words, it does not alter the molecular structure of the item being heated. The effects of microwave energy are strictly thermal and do not cause cellular change as with ionising radiation. Microwaves used in microwave ovens oscillate at 2450 million cycles per second.
Microwaves are a form of radiant energy.
Although microwaves do not carry enough energy to be ionising, they can be dangerous. If microwaves can cook a piece of beef, these waves will also have the same effect on human tissue if it is exposed to high enough intensities for a long enough period of time. However, no one really knows for sure what are the safe levels of exposure. Several American laboratories have found that low level exposure to microwaves can cause cumulative effects to the eyes, resulting in cataracts. The effects of long term exposure to low levels of microwaves, and their significance to human health, will become clear only after large numbers of people who are being exposed to microwaves are studied for many years.