'Discovery of microwaves has revolutionised our lives'

Dr A Q Ansari Ex-Vice Chancellor, SAU Tando Jam and Rectar Al-Khair University Islamabad Dr B A. Sheikh Vice Chancellor, SAU Tando Jam And Dr G H Jamro Professor, Department of Agronomy, S A U Tando Jam has said that the microwaves are electromagnetic waves having frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz. The discovery of microwaves has revolutionised our life and its advantages for the people is vital.
The most common is microwave oven which has become an important and popular kitchen appliance. A microwave oven works by passing non-ionising microwave radiation usually at a frequency of 2450 MHz through the food.
Water, fat and sugar molecules in the food absorb this energy. However, microwave heating is more effective on liquid water (has more molecular dipole moment) than fats and sugars, and frozen water. Microwaves contain insufficient energy to directly chemically change substances by ionisation. The health effects of microwaves are controversial. A great number of studies has been undertaken in the last decades, some conclude that microwaves pose hazard to health and others conclude that they are safe.
Keeping these aspects in mind different experiments were conducted under semi-control conditions (light intensity 8000 lux (16 hours); temperature 250C and humidity 70%) to see the effects of microwaved water on the growth of various plants. The seeds were sown in sand culture and treated with ordinary ground water (pH 7.5 and EC 0.13 dS/m) and microwaved ground water.
An experiment regarding microwaved water on the growth of goose foot/duck foot (Syngonium podtricolor) was conducted. The plants were transplanted in two glass bottles containing half litter of microwaved ground water and ordinary ground water.
In another experiment, Devils ivy/Pothos (Scindapsus auveus) plants were tested with microwaved water and ordinary underground water. The plants were transplanted in glass bottles containing half litre of microwaved ground water and ordinary underground water. The results showed that plants grown in microwaved water started wilting after 20 days and finally died whereas the plants in ordinary under ground water showed a vigorous growth.