Jim Lux wrote:

[...]

I know of only one fellow who worked on radar for the military and used
to warm his hands by a slit on the waveguides, who seriously thought he
suffered any disease from rf; his complaint was that it increased the
severity of his arthritis in his hands.

Now, I can see that "cooking" your hands with microwaves is not good ...
how he determined that this caused more pain from arthritis was probably
less than scientific--however, it would be quite easy for me to believe.
I also note that he did have to have cataract surgery, however, so did
many in my family who were not exposed to any rf that they were aware of.

My statement stands, other than mentioned here I am aware of no hams
with legitimate injuries from rf from hf antennas (and, I have no way to
determine the validity of such anyway.)

Now, I have heard many, many stories of friends of friends, or someone
who knows someone--somewhere who has suffered noticeable damage from
rf--however, I have also met individuals who have claimed to have been
abducted by aliens ...

Not long ago I had dental surgery and a "rf scalpel" was used. I
suppose I could go find some loony attorney to help me sue the dentist
.... I think I'll pass ... other than the "normal" longer-than-usual time
to heal which is common to rf burns, I noted no abnormal complications.

But, wives tales can make for entertaining reading, feel free to
entertain me ...

Regards,
JS