After the war, the Allied forces discovered medical research done by the Germans on microwave ovens. These captured documents and some microwave ovens, were transferred to the United States and further researched upon. Similarly the Russians also retrieved some microwave ovens and thoroughly researched the potential benefits and costs of using microwave ovens. Surprisingly, while microwave ovens are common in the USA, the Russians outlawed their use and also issued an international warning on the biological and environmental hazards of microwave ovens. The Russians also did research on thousands of workers who had been exposed to microwaves during the development of radar in the 1950's. Their research showed health problems so serious that the Russians set strict limits of 10 microwatts exposure for workers and one microwatt for civilians.
The term “Microwave sickness” was coined for health problems thought to be caused by excessive exposure to, or by the use of things exposed to microwaves. The first symptoms of Microwave sickness are low blood pressure and slow pulse. The later and most common manifestations are chronic excitation of the sympathetic nervous system (stress syndrome) and high blood pressure. This phase also often includes headache, dizziness, eye pain, sleeplessness, irritability, anxiety, stomach pain, nervous tension, inability to concentrate, hair loss, plus an increased incidence of appendicitis, cataracts, reproductive problems, and cancer. The chronic symptoms are eventually succeeded by crisis of adrenal exhaustion and the blockage of coronary arteries and ultimately fatal heart attacks. Even though the research on Microwave sickness is limited there is sufficient evidence to prove it does occur. (Source: www.berk.com/%7elessemf/mw-stnds.html)
A number of warnings have been made public regarding the dangers of using microwave ovens for heating baby’s milk. Microwaves are not recommended for heating a baby's bottle. The bottle may seem cool to the touch, but the liquid inside may become extremely hot and could burn the baby's mouth and throat. Also, the buildup of steam in a baby bottle could cause it to explode. But most important of all, heating the bottle in a microwave can cause slight changes in the milk. In infant formulas, there may be a loss of some vitamins. In expressed breast milk, some protective properties may be destroyed. Microwaving baby formulas destroys certain chemical constituents of the milk. Furthermore, certain amino-acids have been know to transform into toxic forms which effect the nervous systems and the kidneys.
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