Microwave magnatron...
 

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[Closed] Microwave magnatron burn out - is there any danger to health?

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This morning our microwave blew up quite spectacularly - brown acrid smoke bellowing out of the vents and filling the kitchen.

I have inhaled quite a lot of the smoke after running in to get my daughter out of the room (the other daughter was still upstairs) and to open windows/switch on extractors etc.

I am concerned about any health risks as I can still taste the smoke in my mouth. Much moreso, I am concerned about our 10 week old twins going back into the house. My wife took them straight to her mum's and is back at the house cleaning everything she can and has all the windows open to vent as well as she can. Would we be better off staying away for a bit?

Also - is there any way of removing the revolting smell easily?


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 1:24 pm
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gargle with febreeze?


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 1:31 pm
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The current 'mouthwash' is a big bag of fruit pastilles.

Mrs M has bought Febreeze for the carpet/sofa etc.


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 1:33 pm
 Smee
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Blow your nose - the smoke'll have got up there and will be making you think you can still taste it.


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 1:35 pm
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I have tried that one and the fruit pastilles won't fit up my nostrils either...


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 1:37 pm
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I think you're probably not going to die from your own personal Kitchen Chernobyl, if that's what you're worried about.


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 1:38 pm
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your own personal Kitchen Chernobyl

😆
I agree,you'll be fine,its just a bit of smoke,air the house then go for a long ride gulping in lungfuls of fresh air

Pernod might also help 😉


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 1:49 pm
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Fair enough - I just wasn't sure what noxious gases may be present in the magnatron.

It was pretty spectacular 🙂


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 1:50 pm
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Whether or not this information worries you depends on how much smoke you inhaled, and also on the specific type of the magnetron in your microwave.

Some magnetrons have beryllium oxide ceramic insulators, which is a known carcinogen and can cause berylliosis, a lung disease, from a single exposure. Typically, however, this warning only applies to crushed magnetons. IIRC, it's more associated with people who worked underground in enclosed spaces around radar equipment.

The smoke you inhaled is probably from wiring insulation and consequently is fairly harmless. The rest of the magnetron is copper and so not an issue. Personally, I wouldn't be concerned.


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 1:50 pm
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A good mouthful (or snort) will soon clear your nose out:

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 2:06 pm
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Magnatron's most dangerous in his gun mode tbh, I don't think you have to worry too much when he's transformed into an oven.


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 2:06 pm
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Northwind - is that your coat?

🙂


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 2:10 pm
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PMSL at Northwind. 😆 😀 😆


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 2:26 pm
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If you're really lucky you may have been blasted with microwaves and now have superpowers. you just have to work out what they are.

Try jumping over a building. I expect you've got some really obscure powers like being able to turn hedgehogs in beer.


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 2:32 pm
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I just wasn't sure what noxious gases may be present in the magnatron.

a deadly gas called 'vacuum'...


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 2:40 pm
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a deadly gas called 'vacuum'...

Have you seen Airplane II?


 
Posted : 18/08/2009 2:47 pm