Just found out our microwave had a hole burnt in the back! Now worried we’ve been exposed to radiation

[JennyTals]

Omg what the hell! Obviously we’ve unplugged it and removed it

but I’m worried now
don’t knowing how long it’s been like that

Is it the plastic cover that has been burnt? Microwaves are contained inside the oven by a faraday cage, a metal case and special glass at the front, if this is intact then you should be OK.

However, the oven's safety has been compromised by not leaving enough space around it to let heat dissipate , I would get rid and buy a new one.

Presumably you've not had close access to the back though and it's been pointing towards a solid wall?

Microwaves cause heating and burns so if you've not noticed those affects, there's nothing to be worried about, but obviously you've done the right thing by getting rid of it.

The hole goes completely through it !!
What the heck !

it’s already been removed and we won’t use it but I’m worried about how much radiation we’ve been exposed to as we didn’t know it was there

What kind of radiation do you think you’ve been exposed to?

The kind that comes out of the microwave ?

And what kind do you think that is? Do you think there's plutonium in there?

You might want to brush up on the electromagnetic spectrum. Microwave rays don't affect your cells. They create heat by making water molecules vibrate. That's it. Unless you've noticed random bits of your body steaming lately, you have not been microwaved.

Hi OP nothing worry about as I posted this morning.

Just imagine how interesting life would be if everyone had a small nuclear reactor in the kitchen 😂

Microwaves are harmless like radiowaves and light waves which are all around you now.

Ok thanks I’ll try n stop worrying now
I’ve been worrying about cancer 🥹

esp as there’s a massive hole in the back

They are certainly not harmless.

When you go to bed tonight and switch the light off, see if you emit a green glow.
If you do, wrap yourself in some handy lead sheeting and shuffle off to A&E in the morning. 👌

But they don't cause cancer.

You could get burns if you are exposed to the microwave beam. But this would have come out of the hole at the back end and most of it absorbed by the wall.

A tiny bit might be reflected but unless you're actually very near the microwave the exposure is probably very small and if no-one felt any heat or got burnt then there's nothing to worry about.

@ChandrilanDiscoDroid Thanks for the chortle. Random body bits steaming. 😁

Sorry I must have crossed posts with you
The microwave backed onto a stud tiled wall