>The Soviets ban on microwave ovens probably had nothing to do with health.
>Their track record of caring for their subjects was not very impressive.  The
>Soviet ban on microwave oven was probably economic. They limited the amount
>of consumer goods that their factories could produce. Imports were also
>severely limited.  The ban could also have been technological.  They might
>have not wanted small magnetrons
>in the hands of the people for some goofy communist reason.

I've heard that they can be made into UHF TV transmitters without too
much
trouble, not that the SU had many TV sets to worry over.

Mike