安啦，微波不會破壞細胞內(nèi)的DNA

Microwave ovens have been a kitchen staple for decades, allowing you to cook everything from frozen vegetables to packaged meals in minutes. But while you zap your food, you may wonder how close you can safely stand next to a microwave, and whether any radiation could escape from the device and potentially harm you.

幾十年來，微波爐一直是廚房的主要設(shè)備，你可以在幾分鐘內(nèi)煮好冷凍蔬菜及袋裝飯菜等所有食物。但是當你用微波爐加熱食物的時候，你可能會想知道站在微波爐旁邊多遠才安全，以及設(shè)備是否會泄漏一些輻射并傷害到你。

Do you really need to worry about this? The short answer is, not really. Injuries from microwave radiation are very rare, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. However, there are certain precautions you can take to keep yourself safe when using a microwave oven.

你真的需要擔心這個嗎?太長不看版答案是，并不需要。美國食品和藥物管理局(FDA)稱，微波輻射造成的傷害非常罕見。不過，使用微波爐時，你可以采取一些預(yù)防措施來保證自己的安全。

Microwaves are a type of electromagnetic radiation, or waves of energy that move through space, according to the FDA. Electromagnetic radiation takes different forms, including radio waves, visible light, X-rays and gamma-rays.

FDA稱，微波是一種電磁輻射，即在空間中移動的能量波。電磁輻射具有不同的形式，包括無線電波、可見光、X射線和伽馬射線。

Microwaves, like radio waves, are a type of of "non-ionizing radiation," meaning they don't have enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms, the FDA says. Microwaves are therefore not known to damage DNA inside cells, according to the American Cancer Society.

FDA稱，和無線電波一樣，微波是一種“非電離輻射”，這意味著微波不具有足以撞擊電子使其脫離原子的能量。因此，美國癌癥學(xué)會表示，并不認為微波會破壞細胞內(nèi)的DNA。

In contrast, X-rays and gamma-rays are classified as "ionizing radiation," a type that does have enough energy to remove electrons from atoms and can damage cells and DNA.

相比之下，X射線和伽馬射線則被列為“電離輻射”，這種類型的輻射確實具有足以使電子脫離原子的能量，并且能夠損害細胞和DNA。

Even though microwaves don't pose the same health risks as X-rays, that doesn't mean they are risk-free. Microwaves heat food by causing water molecules to vibrate, which produces heat. In theory, microwaves can heat body tissues in the same way they heat food, and at high levels, microwaves can cause burns and cataracts, according to the FDA. But these types of injuries are very rare and have generally occurred when people are exposed to large amounts of radiation leaking through openings in the oven, such as gaps in the seal, the FDA says.

盡管微波不會與X射線一樣對健康構(gòu)成風險，但這并不意味著它們毫無風險。微波通過引起水分子振動從而產(chǎn)生熱量來加熱食物。據(jù)FDA稱，理論上，微波會以與加熱食物相同的方式使人體組織受熱，而且在嚴重的情況下，可能導(dǎo)致燙傷和白內(nèi)障。但是，F(xiàn)DA認為，這兩種類型的傷害非常罕見，并且通常發(fā)生在人們接觸到透過微波爐的開口(比如密封條的裂口)泄漏大量輻射的時候。

What's more, the FDA requires microwaves to be designed in a certain way to prevent these types of radiation leaks. For example, the FDA requires that microwave ovens have two interlock systems that halt the production of microwaves the moment the door is opened. And the agency requires that these ovens have a monitoring system that stops the device from operating if one of the interlock systems fail.

此外，F(xiàn)DA還要求微波爐的設(shè)計能夠防止這類輻射泄漏。例如，F(xiàn)DA要求微波爐有兩個連鎖裝置，當微波爐的門被打開時，這個系統(tǒng)就會停止微波的產(chǎn)生。該機構(gòu)要求微波爐設(shè)置監(jiān)控系統(tǒng)，如果其中一個連鎖系統(tǒng)出現(xiàn)故障，該設(shè)備就會停止運行。

As a result, there is "little cause for concern" about excess microwaves leaking out from your oven, unless there is damage to the door hinge, latch or seal, the FDA says.

FDA稱，除非微波爐的門鉸鏈、門鎖或密封條存在損壞，否則對于微波爐會泄漏過量微波幾乎“不存在值得擔心的理由”。

Still, the agency recommends that you check your microwave oven carefully and do not use it if the door doesn't close properly, or if it is "bent, warped, or otherwise damaged." As an added precaution, the FDA recommends that you don't lean or stand directly against a microwave oven for long periods while it's operating.

盡管如此，F(xiàn)DA還是建議你仔細檢查你的微波爐，如果門不能正常關(guān)閉，或者發(fā)生了“彎曲、歪斜或其他損壞”的話，就不要使用。作為一項額外的預(yù)防措施，F(xiàn)DA建議你在微波爐工作時不要長時間地直接貼靠或直接站在微波爐前面。

As far as injuries from microwave ovens go, the most common way people are injured is via heat-related burns from touching hot containers or overheated foods, or being exposed to exploding liquids. The FDA recommends that people use common-sense precautions when handling hot foods and beverages cooked in microwave ovens.

就微波爐造成的傷害而言，最常見的受傷是接觸熱容器或過熱食物，或接觸爆炸的液體，從而導(dǎo)致灼傷。FDA建議人們在使用微波爐加熱食物和飲料時采取常識性的預(yù)防措施。

The agency also warns that, when you use a microwave to heat water in a cup, there's a risk of the water becoming "superheated," which means it has heated past its boiling point.

該機構(gòu)還警告說，當你用微波爐加熱杯子里的水時，會有水變得“過熱”的風險，這意味著水的溫度超過了沸點。

When this happens, the water does not appear to be boiling, but just a slight disturbance to the water — which can occur when touching or picking up the cup — can cause an eruption of boiling water.

當這種情況發(fā)生時，水看起來并沒有沸騰，但只要碰到或拿起杯子時對水有輕微的擾動就會導(dǎo)致沸騰的水噴發(fā)。

This can lead to skin burns or scalding injuries, particularly on the face and hands. To prevent superheated water from forming, the FDA says people should not exceed the recommended heating time for water, as indicated in the oven's instruction manual.

這會導(dǎo)致皮膚，尤其是臉部和手部，灼傷或燙傷。為了防止過熱的水形成，F(xiàn)DA表示，不應(yīng)該超過微波爐說明書中建議的加熱時間。

Indeed, it's generally a good idea to read and follow your microwave oven's instruction manual to help keep yourself safe when using it.

事實上，使用微波爐的時候，最好閱讀并遵循微波爐的使用說明書，以保障你的安全。