Is an Electric Kettle with Excess Heavy Metals Carcinogenic? Unveiling the Truth!

Is an Electric Kettle with Excess Heavy Metals Carcinogenic? Unveiling the Truth!Old Wang wanted to boil some water, but he couldn't find his electric kettle. "I threw it away," Old Wang's wife replied

Is an Electric Kettle with Excess Heavy Metals Carcinogenic? Unveiling the Truth!

Old Wang wanted to boil some water, but he couldn't find his electric kettle. "I threw it away," Old Wang's wife replied. "What? Threw it away? We just bought it a while ago!" Old Wang exclaimed in anger. Later, Old Wang learned that his wife threw away the kettle because she heard that long-term use of electric kettles for boiling water could lead to heavy metal contamination and even cancer. Although Old Wang understood his wife's concerns, he was still skeptical. After all, he had been using an electric kettle for decades and was in good health.

I. Are Electric Kettles Really Harmful to Our Health?

The most common claim regarding the harms of using electric kettles is the presence of heavy metals. The argument is that if we use these kettles for a long time, it can lead to heavy metal poisoning, which can even cause cancer.

There are many types of electric kettles on the market, with varying prices. However, the majority of kettles are made of stainless steel, which can be categorized as either food-grade or non-food-grade. According to research, 430, 304, and 316 are the main types of food-grade stainless steel used in household appliances in China. Among these, 304 stainless steel is the most common material used for electric kettles.

304 stainless steel is a material that meets national standards and has excellent heat resistance and corrosion resistance. Furthermore, the content of chromium, nickel, and other elements is relatively low, falling within the safe range permitted by national standards. Electric kettles made of 304 stainless steel are unlikely to release heavy metals during the boiling process, effectively preventing excess heavy metal contamination.

However, there are some unscrupulous manufacturers who use inferior materials like 202 and 201 stainless steel to replace 304 stainless steel. These low-quality materials contain high levels of manganese, exceeding safety standards. Electric kettles made of these inferior materials may release manganese during boiling. Long-term consumption of water boiled in these kettles can lead to manganese accumulation in the body, exceeding safe levels and causing chronic manganese poisoning. Symptoms of manganese poisoning include palpitations, dizziness, and other issues. Additionally, prolonged use of electric kettles made of inferior materials with high nickel content can cause excessive nickel levels in the body. This can lead to skin damage, respiratory problems, and even cancer in severe cases.

II. Key Points to Consider When Using an Electric Kettle

1. Choose Compliant Products

Choosing compliant products is crucial for health. When purchasing an electric kettle, it is essential to buy from reputable sources and avoid purchasing products without proper certifications to ensure your health. Also, it is essential to choose products whose materials comply with national safety standards and are food-grade. Choose kettles with minimal or strong magnetism; avoid kettles that are slightly magnetic. This is because these products are more likely to be made of inferior materials such as 201 or 202. If a product lacks relevant information or the information is incomplete, refrain from purchasing it, as there may be safety hazards.

2. Regular Cleaning

If you use tap water, regularly clean your electric kettle. While the harmful effects of water scale on human health are unclear, it is still advisable to remove it. Water scale contains a large amount of calcium carbonate, and long-term consumption of water containing calcium carbonate from a kettle with water scale deposits may have adverse effects on the body. Additionally, thick water scale deposits on the kettle's inner wall can hinder heat transfer, affecting the kettle's performance. Moreover, uneven heat distribution can increase the risk of kettle explosions.

3. Pay Attention to Safety

Safety is paramount when using an electric kettle. Avoid using the kettle to cook food, as it may cause the water inside to boil over and spill. If spilled water comes into contact with the power cord, it can easily lead to safety hazards and even cause the kettle to explode. Additionally, if the food being cooked has a high salt content, the stainless steel may react with the electrolytes in the salt, leading to the release of heavy metals, which can harm the body. Always supervise the kettle when boiling water to prevent it from burning dry, which could cause the kettle to catch fire.

III. Is It Safe to Drink Water Boiled in an Electric Kettle Overnight?

You may have heard that it is not safe to drink overnight water that has been boiled. Some even claim that it can cause cancer. Is this scientifically valid? Many of these claims about the harm of drinking overnight water mention nitrite. The argument is that overnight water produces nitrite, which can be harmful to health. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.

Nitrite is a common substance found in our daily lives. Fruits and vegetables contain nitrite, but it is present in very small amounts. This indicates that nitrite does not pose a significant threat to human health, and the claim that it can cause cancer is baseless. Furthermore, the nitrite content in overnight water is minimal and does not reach levels that could harm human health.

Another claim about nitrite in water is that it can be harmful to health if it is repeatedly boiled. This claim is also not scientifically valid. Even after repeatedly boiling water, the nitrite content remains low and does not pose a risk of causing cancer.

IV. Foods That May Contain Heavy Metals and Should Be Consumed in Moderation

It is not only the stainless steel in electric kettles that may contain heavy metals; some foods also contain heavy metals. Long-term consumption of these foods can significantly impact human health.

1. Puffed Foods

Sampling surveys have revealed that puffed foods like chips and shrimp crackers contain high levels of aluminum and lead. Puffing agents are commonly used in the production of puffed foods and contain heavy metals like lead and aluminum, which can threaten the nervous system.

Puffed foods are also high in calories but have low nutritional value. Most puffed foods contain high amounts of fat and sugar but are deficient in vitamins and minerals. Moreover, puffed foods contain a significant amount of trans fats, which have adverse health effects. Regular consumption of trans fats can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, pancreatic cancer, diabetes, and other ailments.

Furthermore, the raw materials used for puffed foods are not always guaranteed to be safe. They may include corn, wheat, and other agricultural products that do not meet food hygiene standards. Also, the repeated processing of chips, crackers, and other puffed foods can lead to contamination from external environmental pollutants, causing food poisoning.

2. Animal Offal

The number of poultry raised on industrial feed is increasing, but the safety of these feeds is not reliable. Some feed may be contaminated with heavy metals, and if poultry consume such feed, these heavy metals may accumulate in their offal, leading to higher levels of toxic residues.

Additionally, animals are at least at the second level in the food chain, meaning that toxins can accumulate gradually in their bodies. While animals can decompose some of these toxins, the majority remain in their offal. Furthermore, animal offal such as pig liver contains high levels of cholesterol. Excessive cholesterol intake can threaten human health and increase the risk of developing hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, and other diseases. Therefore, it is best to avoid eating animal offal, and if you do, consume it in moderation.

3. Seafood

Seafood is rich in protein and has a delicious flavor. Many people enjoy eating seafood. However, seafood is more susceptible to contamination than meat from land animals, especially seafood from coastal waters. Lead, mercury, cadmium, and other heavy metals in seawater can accumulate in aquatic animals through the food chain. This is particularly true for seafood like shellfish, which live in the bottom sediments of the ocean, and their contamination levels can be more severe.

Furthermore, the aquaculture industry often uses large amounts of antibiotics like chloramphenicol and oxytetracycline. Some farmers use a combination of antibiotics to reduce the residual levels of each antibiotic during testing, but this practice can worsen the problem of antibiotic residues in seafood.

While seafood offers essential nutrients, excessive consumption can harm the spleen and stomach, leading to allergies, diarrhea, and other issues. Some seafood may contain parasites like tapeworms and thorny-headed worms. If seafood is undercooked or improperly processed, it can cause parasitic infections, affecting human health.

Seafood like abalone and shark contain high levels of fat and cholesterol. Excessive consumption can lead to elevated blood lipid levels and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, although seafood is beneficial to human health, it is necessary to be mindful of consumption to avoid exceeding the recommended intake and harming one's health.

Heavy metals have a significant impact on human health. Excessive intake of heavy metals can lead to toxicity. Some heavy metals like lead can affect the nervous system, causing neurological diseases. This can lead to: