Based on all the confusing and conflicting reports related to products giving off radiation, it was time to clear the air. I wrote some experts who specialize in air and radiation to get their take on things…

Dear U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation Communications:

There’s a lot of buzz about radiation in the air these days caused by products. Sometimes I think I actually glow in the dark. Is that remotely possible or should I get checked for cataracts?

What can you tell me about radiation from microwave ovens? I frequently microwave foods because it beats risking food poisoning from my cooking. Is it true that microwaves actually change the molecular structure of foods? Could it change the molecular structure of sugar snap peas to the molecular structure of pepperoni? That might upset some vegetarians. Can you please take a vote at your next EPA meeting and ask how many believe microwave cooking is 100% safe based on Newton’s Law of Cooling as it pertains to cooking and radiative transfer? I’m not really sure what that means, but I did find all of those terms online and it made me curious, so if you can get back to me on that I’d appreciate it.

Another product I’m not completely sold on are Bluetooth headsets, which also emit radiation. Is sticking something like that in your ear, just a skull thickness away from your cerebellum, really a good idea? I can’t afford to lose any more brain cells than I’ve already lost. I don’t know how Bluetooth got its name, but I hope it wasn’t from radiation turning the teeth of mice blue during clinical trials. When you take that poll about microwave ovens, can you see how many yeas and nays you get for wearing Bluetooth headsets so close to the brain?

Thank you for keeping citizens safer and healthier. Any information you can send will be helpful. Don’t worry about being too technical. I know a radiologist who can help translate anything that’s over or in my head.

A Representative from the United States Environmental Protection Agency responded with:

Thank you for contacting the EPA Office of Air and Radiation.

With so many myths and stories concerning radiation in popular culture, it is often a subject that can be very confusing to people. However, radiation exposure will not cause you to glow in the dark.

You also expressed concerns about microwave ovens. Microwave ovens use high-frequency electromagnetic waves that penetrate food, causing its molecules to vibrate and generate heat within the food to cook it very quickly. This does not make food radioactive or contaminated, nor does it change the molecular structure of the food. Our web page, http://www.epa.gov/radtown/microwave.html, discusses microwave ovens and provides links to other informative websites including the Food and Drug Administration’s very informative “Microwave Oven Radiation” webpage.

Your other main question dealt with Bluetooth headsets. All wireless devices such as these must conform to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standards. Information on these standards can be found in an FCC document titled, “Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields: OET Bulletin 65.” This document can be found on the FCC website at: http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Documents/bulletins/oet65/oet65.pdf.

Additionally, a wireless headset such as a Bluetooth device will emit less radio frequency radiation than a regular cell phone. This is because the signal that the wireless headset uses to connect to your cell phone can be much weaker than the signals that cell phones use to connect with towers over much greater distances.

I hope this answers your questions.

Final Thoughts: I couldn’t be more impressed with the way the EPA handled this inquiry. They addressed the questions completely, even to the point of assuring me that I wouldn’t glow in the dark from radiation exposure. That alone will save me hours of time by not having to stand in front of my bathroom mirror naked anymore in complete darkness trying to verify that possibility.

Equally impressive is that in addition to all of the valuable knowledge the EPA shared in their reply, they also exposed me to helpful information and facts provided by other government agencies related to the issues in question. Many other government offices, as well as corporations and organizations, can certainly take lessons from the EPA in how to educate consumers and provide quality service.

If you’ve got questions or concerns about radiation and other potentially harmful substances flowing through the air, check with the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation. However, other than certain forms of voluntary nudity, if you feel you’re exposing your body to something you shouldn’t, get all the facts fast by reaching out to the appropriate agency. Or, if it relates to a specific product, you can always Write The Company.