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I can appreciate your concern, I appreciate you bring it up. However, I must assume you are passing on this concern based on what you have read rather than first hand knowledge. (If I am wrong please accept my apologize) I admit I am not an expert in chemistry. I want to get a clear answer to this question so I am perusing it. Here is what I have gotten so far. SS 300 series (most common) Has Carbon, Chromium (18%), Nickel, Manganese, Silicon, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Iron. There is no Lead (Pb) or Cadmium (Cd) The reason SS are corrosion resistant is that the chromium forms a passivation layer of chromium(III) oxide (Cr2O3) when exposed to oxygen. The layer is impervious to water and air, protecting the metal beneath. Chromium metal and chromium(III) compounds are not usually considered health hazards. It is the hexavalent chromium (chromium VI) compounds can be toxic if orally ingested or inhaled. When the water disassociates a hydrogen cation H+ and a Hydroxide ion (OH-). Hydroxide is attracted to the anode. Now the question is because you are running electric current through the system are we making small quantities of hexavalent chromium? or is only chromium(III) oxide being created. If the latter then SS is probably safe to use. If the former then I will support your position if at dangerous levels. Just as a sanity check. If you used a 1/16" x 2" x 10" piece of SS (9.62 gm or 1/3 lb) if 1% were to dissolve (this is probably a high figure) then we are talking 0.0016 lbs of chromium or 0.017 grams. If all of that were Cr(VI) then we are talking about 17 milligrams of CR(VI). If dissolved in just over 4 gallons or 16 liters of water, then the concentration would be about 17 mg/16 liters or 1 mg/liter. World Health Organization recommended maximum allowable concentration in drinking water for chromium (VI) is 0.05 milligrams per liter. If we assume all the Cr turned into CR(VI) then we are 20 times the recommended level for drinking water. Though I wouldn"t want to drink it anyway. Again this assumes the process creates 100% CR(VI). Good point it is worth perusing. I"ll let you know what I find out.
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