Resistance to other gases is dependent on the type of gas, the temperature, and the alloying content of the stainless steel. Stainless steel, due to having a more positive electrode potential than for example carbon steel and aluminium, becomes the cathode, accelerating the corrosion of the anodic metal.

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is a sudden cracking and failure of a component without deformation.This review provides an analysis of the environmental occurrence, production and use, potential for human exposure, and molecular mechanisms of toxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury.

An average stainless steel object is composed of about 60% recycled material of which approximately 40% originates from end-of-life products, while the remaining 60% comes from manufacturing processes. Rodent studies have shown that chronic inhalation of cadmium causes pulmonary adenocarcinomas [ 108, 109].Any of these forms of corrosion can occur when the grade of stainless steel is not suited for the working environment. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion results from the chromium, which forms a passive film that can protect the material and self-heal in the presence of oxygen. Exposure to arsenic occurs via the oral route (ingestion), inhalation, dermal contact, and the parenteral route to some extent [ 33, 34, 37]. It is estimated that more than 300,000 workers are exposed annually to chromium and chromium-containing compounds in the workplace. The remaining possible modes of carcinogenic action (progression of carcinogenesis, altered DNA repair, p53 suppression, altered DNA methylation patterns and gene amplification) do not have as much evidence, particularly from in vivo studies with laboratory animals, in vitro studies with cultured human cells, or human data from case or population studies.