Are solar cookers dangerous?

The dangers of solar cookers are those of the optic radiation of the sun. Apart from visible light, the sun emits infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The World Health Organization launched the project "Intersun" to counsel on the dangers of optic radiation of the sun and on protective measures.

Normally the eyes are shielded by the roof of the cavity of the eye against optic radiation from above. The particularity of reflected solar radiation, as in the case of solar cookers, is that the rays come in horizontally or from below, as in the case of a snow field, which may lead to dazzling. This makes protective measure necessary. In the case of the Papillon, these have largely been incorporated into the design concept, in as far as there are no reflecting surfaces in front of the cook. Individual measures like sunglasses shielding against UV are also commendable.

A possible effect of optic radiation is cataract.  As the general population in the tropics is constantly exposed to high levels of sunlight, cataract is a frequent eye disease in the tropics. According to WHO estimates, 12 to 15 million people become blind from cataract annually, and out of these, 2,4 to 3 million are due to solar radiation. Careful handling of the solar cooker can avoid an increase of this pre-existent danger.

For the safe handling of solar cookers an instruction is necessary. This is generally accepted in the case of electricity and gas. The same standards should be applied to solar cooking.

In order to place possible eye effects in context, possible health dangers of other energy sources like indoor air pollution due to biomass burning, exploding kerosin cookers etc. have to be taken into account.

For more information:  Are Solar Cookers Dangerous to the eyes? (pdf, 2,1MB)

WHO Bulletin on: Health effects of UV radiation

Next page: Distinctive freatures of the Papillon

Back to: Index PapiTchad