Considering how long microwave ovens have been around, one would think that any concerns about their safety would have been resolved long ago. But many people continue to wonder whether standing next to a microwave while it is on can expose them to radiation and if so, how much? Although microwave ovens can in fact leak radiation, the levels that might be released are fairly minute.
Every microwave that reaches a market must meet a requirement, limiting the amount of radiation it can leak in its lifetime to five milli watts per square centimeter at roughly two inches away from oven. This is far below the levels of radiation that have been shown to harm humans.
The bottom line is that proximity to a microwave oven is not dangerous.