Posted By Artful Dodger Fair comment to some extent - this is after all how h&S progresses in some ways. Nevertheless, as I put in my last posting that is how I understand the legal system works. I fully agree RF burns/eye cateracts etc are self evident, but not the risk from cancer and other ill health effects claimed by some from m/waves. Clearly there will always be difference in opinion in scientific research and until it is clear both from the scientific point of view and acceptance by the courts, the present balance of probabilities is that m/waves are not causing a health problem. However, I will accept a different view point once proved otherwise - that is not to say m/wave ovens and other sources of RF will should treated with caution. Both the scientific and legal court juries are still 'out' on this topic.

Posted By Al Beevers Well my little question has sparked a long discussion, deviating from the point a bit. I work for a M&E contractor, and as the PAT tests were being done, the client asked about m/w leakage testing, so I found out. Personally, I think the risk is so low as to be totally insignificant compared to the rest of their operations, but what the client wants, the client gets. Annual microwave leakage tests are now underway. Al.

Posted By Roger the Dodger John, you may not believe the exisiting findings in terms of scientific research - but that is entirely your view point, which you entitled too. But unless you can provide valid scientific data accepted by the wider scientific community and not just opinion/conjecture then your views are just that. As part of the 'against' argument - it is now over 100years since radio was first used, and about 60years since radar/microwave devices was developed. In that time there must be literally 100,000's of people around the world who have worked in the electronics/radar/aircraft/maritime/military industry etc where exposure to RF radiation is probably higher than the general population, I am not however aware of any health studies etc among these groups of workers that conclusively show a link between RF radiation and ill health/cancer etc. While I fully accept that the devices I mention cover a wider part of the electro-magnetic spectrum than just micro-waves, nevetheless if RF energy posed such a hazard I would haveexpected surprised to see a pattern in these workers of higher than average cancers etc by now. Of course in any theories we should also include naturally ocurring radiation - cosmic radiation from space etc, that reach the earth.

Posted By John Murgatroyd Actually Jeff, I'll leave the checking to my union. And to the HSE, who considered that there was "an unhealthy degree of collusion between the company, the consultancy and the laboratory supplying the testing equipment" We all know what happens when like monitors like. And as for the other comment, from another, about scientists....as I said, check the "reports" about mobile phone health risks from various scientific "tests"....those from greenpeace sponsored research seem to be very different from those sponsored by the major network providers. Probably a good reason. Nothing to do with good old cash. I've "worked" with rf from a few hundred Khz to over 10 Ghz....and I'm still able to see....but then I have never looked into a waveguide, nor done the same with a "dish" antenna...since many people heed the warnings "printed on the label"

Posted By John Thomas I was just scanning though the 2.0 - 2.6 ghz range with my AR5000 scanner, I noticed a very large signal at 2.45 ghz with a very wide 20mhz bandwidth it had peaks of around -90db... I then realized I had a pie in the microwave oven!....anyway does this amount of db sound correct? what is the normal leakage on a typical microwave oven at 800 watts? the scanner is around 10 meters from the oven. Thanks John.