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About the Museum
The Museum of Hoaxes is dedicated to promoting knowledge about hoaxes. (Click here for opening hours, etc.) On our blog we post about dubious- sounding claims, and whatever else strikes our fancy. The site is also home to the Hoaxipedia (the museum's online encyclopedia of hoaxes), the Hoax Forum, and the Top 100 April Fools' Day Hoaxes.
The museum was created in 1997 by Alex Boese. He's assisted by a staff of deputy curators and docents. Alex is the author of three books, most recently Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments (which has nothing to do with hoaxes). Check out the list of the Top 20 Most Bizarre Experiments of All Time for a preview.
The Museum of Hoaxes is dedicated to promoting knowledge about hoaxes. (Click here for opening hours, etc.) On our blog we post about dubious- sounding claims, and whatever else strikes our fancy. The site is also home to the Hoaxipedia (the museum's online encyclopedia of hoaxes), the Hoax Forum, and the Top 100 April Fools' Day Hoaxes.
The museum was created in 1997 by Alex Boese. He's assisted by a staff of deputy curators and docents. Alex is the author of three books, most recently Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments (which has nothing to do with hoaxes). Check out the list of the Top 20 Most Bizarre Experiments of All Time for a preview.Prankplace.com
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Microwave Cooking is Killing You!
At this link you'll find a long essay ranting about the evils of microwave ovens. It claims that food cooked in a microwave, no matter what kind of food it is: "increases cholesterol, increases white blood cell numbers, decreases red blood cell numbers, and causes production of radiolytic compounds (compounds unknown in nature)". All sounds a bit dubious, but I'm actually more interested in one specific story told at the beginning of the article:There was a lawsuit in 1991 in Oklahoma. A woman named Norma Levitt had hip surgery, but was killed by a simple blood transfusion when a nurse "warmed the blood for the transfusion in a microwave oven!"
This seemed a bit unlikely to me, but a quick google search revealed that this same story, with almost the exact same wording, appears on many sites. So obviously this is a tale that the anti-microwave people have been spreading around. However, a little more searching reveals that the story isn't true. The incident did happen, but a jury found that Norma Levitt was killed by a blood clot, not by blood heated in a microwave.
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
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Umm...I heat frozen burritos in the microwave.
Posted by Maegan in Tampa, FL - USA on Thu May 12, 2005 at 04:40 AMI cook almost everything in our microwave, as it has grill and oven functions too.
I've burnt myself pretty badly on stuff, but I wouldn't say it was killing me.
Posted by Boo in The Land of the Haggii... on Thu May 12, 2005 at 04:50 AMI've burnt myself pretty badly on stuff, but I wouldn't say it was killing me.
Cecil Adams has looked into this recently:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050506.html
Net: microwave ovens are probably safe, but there are a few anomalies that aren't yet understood. As near as I can tell, though, the oddities which science has turned up aren't the same ones that most panic-stricken websites are concerned about.
Posted by cvirtue in deleted on Thu May 12, 2005 at 05:31 AMhttp://www.straightdope.com/columns/050506.html
Net: microwave ovens are probably safe, but there are a few anomalies that aren't yet understood. As near as I can tell, though, the oddities which science has turned up aren't the same ones that most panic-stricken websites are concerned about.
Take a gander at this woman's home page--it's an exhaustive compendium of paranoia and quackery. She even denigrates "quack-busters" in a couple of entries.
Before the internet these people were just nice, harmless kooks who lived in the little white house down the block.
Posted by ktownson in Slidell, LA on Thu May 12, 2005 at 06:55 AMBefore the internet these people were just nice, harmless kooks who lived in the little white house down the block.
And apparently garlic can desynchronise your brainwaves:
http://www.relfe.com/health_benefits_of_garlic.html
The whole site seems to be full of "product X is harmful and will KILL YOU; for just $14.95 you can buy ethical product Y from us, which will (possibly) NOT KILL YOU - can you afford to take that chance? What of your children?" kind of thing.
Horrible, dirty people.
Posted by Ashley Pomeroy in One after 909 on Thu May 12, 2005 at 09:39 AMhttp://www.relfe.com/health_benefits_of_garlic.html
The whole site seems to be full of "product X is harmful and will KILL YOU; for just $14.95 you can buy ethical product Y from us, which will (possibly) NOT KILL YOU - can you afford to take that chance? What of your children?" kind of thing.
Horrible, dirty people.
It's true...that's why we're all dead.
Posted by Gee... on Thu May 12, 2005 at 02:14 PMSo before they put blood back into you, they pop it in the microwave?
Somehow that makes me kind of queasy.
Posted by Big Gary C in Dallas, Texas on Thu May 12, 2005 at 02:15 PMSomehow that makes me kind of queasy.
Blood is NOT put in the mocro wave to warm up before being tranfused. The blood comes right from the blood bank, and started with in 1/2 an hour of taking it out of the fridge. A bag of saline is hung with it. And it goes through the IV tubing and warms up by the time it reaches the body. About 4-5 checks and triple checks are done by two nurses before the blood is even started. this lady was in the operating room. The blood was still brought right from the blood bank and started right away.
Posted by Chris on Thu May 12, 2005 at 02:38 PMChris,
Can you not see the sentence, printed in blue because it's a link, that says... the story's NOT TRUE???
Posted by Mark-N-Isa in Midwest USA on Thu May 12, 2005 at 06:40 PMCan you not see the sentence, printed in blue because it's a link, that says... the story's NOT TRUE???
When you click the link you can read the transcript from the case...
While I'm sure you're quoting "proper" procedure... apparently it was done in this case. Unless the transcript is a hoax!
Posted by Mark-N-Isa in Midwest USA on Thu May 12, 2005 at 06:42 PMWhile I'm sure you're quoting "proper" procedure... apparently it was done in this case. Unless the transcript is a hoax!
I've had to do plasma transfusions, and you have to thaw the plasma in a lukewarm water bath--the stuff is pretty delicate. It's hard to believe someone actually used a microwave to warm blood, but it was in the transcript, so...someone must have been that clueless.
The point is, just because microwaving would render a blood product useless/dangerous, doesn't mean it's dangerous to cook your food in it. Blood warmed in a regular oven might not be good to use either.
Posted by hippievet on Thu May 12, 2005 at 08:08 PMThe point is, just because microwaving would render a blood product useless/dangerous, doesn't mean it's dangerous to cook your food in it. Blood warmed in a regular oven might not be good to use either.
I actually worked at Hillcrest when this happened......it ran the rumor mill for MONTHS.....I was never able to verify the facts, but I can tell you that people who would have known the whole truth were saying the CRNA did in fact warm the blood in the microwave.....I also had the chance occurance of meeting one of the trial lawyers who represented Hillcrest Hospital in that case while I was living in Dallas several years later. He, of course, could not provide me with any details of the case.....
Posted by Carrie in OK on Fri May 13, 2005 at 05:34 PMHere's one for ya: What's crusty and bubbly, scratches at the glass, has a big, fat, mouth, is too frickin skinny, has knobby knees, and refuses to acknowledge that the Iraq War was based on lie after lie? Answer: Anne Coulter in a microwave... Damn, I love political humor... What a psycho hose-beast.
Posted by Hairy Houdini on Sat May 14, 2005 at 02:11 PMOokay. The thing about the blood in the microwave is linked to. It wasn't the heating it that caused the dmg...just to point that out, b/c it apparently hasn't been pointed out enough.
Posted by Maegan in Tampa, FL - USA on Sun May 15, 2005 at 07:18 AMDid anyone take notice of this note that appeared at the bottom of the transcript: "1 Heating blood in this manner destroys the red blood cells, resulting in "gross hemolysis" of the blood, releasing large amounts of potassium. Excessive potassium, when introduced into the body, is often fatal. The practice of warming Intravenous (IV) fluids, other than blood, in the microwave was an accepted practice at Hillcrest Medical Center, as reflected in its written procedures."
Posted by J. D. Agliotta in PA on Mon Jun 20, 2005 at 12:16 PMI don't know about any possible dangers of microwaves, but the nature of the people who rail against them speaks volumes. Wouldn't their tinfoil hats protect them anyway?
But there seems to be an error in the original message that speaks about the court case. 1: the jury didn't find that the woman died of a blood clot. From what I read that is simply what the defendants claimed. 2: one of the footnotes stated that microwaving blood causes the destruction of red blood cells releasing large amounts of potassium. Potassium is known for two major purposes - as a necessary dietary requirement in small amounts, and, in large amounts, as the substanced used to stop the heart in executions by lethal injection.
Apparently the woman's family still won the suit.
Posted by Dnison in Wisconsin on Sat Jul 09, 2005 at 05:22 PMBut there seems to be an error in the original message that speaks about the court case. 1: the jury didn't find that the woman died of a blood clot. From what I read that is simply what the defendants claimed. 2: one of the footnotes stated that microwaving blood causes the destruction of red blood cells releasing large amounts of potassium. Potassium is known for two major purposes - as a necessary dietary requirement in small amounts, and, in large amounts, as the substanced used to stop the heart in executions by lethal injection.
Apparently the woman's family still won the suit.
you may read the description of the case following the link
check it out
Posted by Youngone76 in China on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 03:24 AMcheck it out
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=ok&vol=/appeals/1995/&invol=1995okcivapp123
WARNER v. HILLCREST MEDICAL CENTER
No. 83555.
914 P.2d 1060
1995 OK CIV APP 123
Decided: September 26, 1995.
Rehearings Denied November 20, 1995.
Certiorari Denied April 1, 1996.
Court of Appeals of Oklahoma, Division 4.
Posted by Youngone76 on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 03:25 AMWARNER v. HILLCREST MEDICAL CENTER
No. 83555.
914 P.2d 1060
1995 OK CIV APP 123
Decided: September 26, 1995.
Rehearings Denied November 20, 1995.
Certiorari Denied April 1, 1996.
Court of Appeals of Oklahoma, Division 4.
I did read the links to do some research, due to my daughter needing some science experiments to toy around with...while I haven't formed an opinion on microwaves, and we still have AND USE one, I thought it might be helpful to have validated research to demonstrate WHY this experiment.
Presuming the legal link IS true, 1)I did not see any claim to the jury stating it was a blood clot simply the ruling of or against 2)the findings of fact state that microwaving BLOOD does alter the blood making it potentially fatal 3)there was nothing specific to state why IV solution should not be warmed other than manufacturing companies suggest against it
Folks, there's controversy all around us! We are a race of peope able to think for ourselves...try some research and experimentation, and do it three times over before you finalize your conclusion.
LIFE IS GOOD SO LIVE IT
Posted by justamom in WA on Fri Mar 09, 2007 at 09:03 AMPresuming the legal link IS true, 1)I did not see any claim to the jury stating it was a blood clot simply the ruling of or against 2)the findings of fact state that microwaving BLOOD does alter the blood making it potentially fatal 3)there was nothing specific to state why IV solution should not be warmed other than manufacturing companies suggest against it
Folks, there's controversy all around us! We are a race of peope able to think for ourselves...try some research and experimentation, and do it three times over before you finalize your conclusion.
LIFE IS GOOD SO LIVE IT
You guys don't know how to do research.
Microwaving damages blood, see:
http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/reprint/49/5/792.pdf
Microwaving should NEVER be used to heat blood, see:
http://www.rch.org.au/rchcpg/index.cfm?doc_id=9905
These guidelines are unclear as to whether they are referring to only pediatric patients, but the word "Never" is indisputable.
The issue might be of warming versus cooking. Though there is plenty of evidence that the way microwave warms things causes unusual effects which are often deleterious to health. I'll let you guys do that research though. It's there...just look for it.
Have fun...
Posted by Hugo in Toronto on Thu Apr 26, 2007 at 01:54 PMMicrowaving damages blood, see:
http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/reprint/49/5/792.pdf
Microwaving should NEVER be used to heat blood, see:
http://www.rch.org.au/rchcpg/index.cfm?doc_id=9905
These guidelines are unclear as to whether they are referring to only pediatric patients, but the word "Never" is indisputable.
The issue might be of warming versus cooking. Though there is plenty of evidence that the way microwave warms things causes unusual effects which are often deleterious to health. I'll let you guys do that research though. It's there...just look for it.
Have fun...
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