Microwaves and Hair Loss?
Hi Doc.First of all, congratulations for this website.
My question is the following: Can an exposure to common microwave-oven rays cause hair-loss? If so, to what extent? Thank you for your help
Common microwave oven rays should not cause hair loss, but I am not a physicist. I would like to believe common microwave ovens are safe as long as you use it as it is intended according to manufacturer’s instruction. According to the United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) microwave (MW) radiation are electromagnetic radiation in the frequency ranges 300 MHz – 300 gigahertz (GHz), respectively.
Most of what I find on microwave radiation is from commercial applications such as cellular phones and radar (not microwave ovens). Some sites have quoted a 1998 book, “The Body Electric“, that mentions a Russian study concluding that hair loss occurs from microwave ovens, but I can’t vouch for this. I would also check out the U.S. FDA site on microwave oven radiation.
There was also a very large, well received meta-study that put an end to all of the controversy showing it have no ill effects on the body. Also, always be careful of “Russian studies” in general. People in the business of promoting quackery and psuedo-science can always quote some obscure “Russian study.” They always fall apart upon close examination.
There is absolutely no reason for worry about hair loss and microwave radiation. First, microwave ovens leak so little radiation that it is often hard to detect anything with sophisticated leakage detection equipment. Second, the energy level of microwaves is much less than ordinary light, and I’m sure no one worries about that. I’ve been working with microwave ovens for nearly 50 years and own about 50 ovens. I have a full head of hair, three grown children – all with their hair, and am in great health. Worrying about microwaves is like worrying about moonlight.