Plastic Electric Kettle and Microplastic release

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Who are still using all plastic electric kettle here? The following paper says that boiling water in a plastic kettle can release over 10 million microplastic particles into just one litre of water. But I read it late and just bought last week a new $100 kettle with stainless steel inside but spout made of plastic, so I wonder if only the spout is plastic, how many millions of microplastic is released??

https://www.nature.com/articles/s44454-025-00018-w

Abstract​

Plastic products can release particles during everyday use, contaminating food and beverages and ultimately entering the human body through ingestion. However, the concentrations of these particles and the extent of human exposure remain poorly understood. While many studies have focused on characterizing the release of microplastics (MPs, > 1 μm), studies on nanoplastics (NPs, < 1 μm) remain limited due to significant analytical challenges associated with their small size. This study addressed this knowledge gap by investigating the release of both NPs and MPs from Australian-sourced polypropylene plastic kettles under normal use conditions using multiple orthogonal analytical techniques. During the initial boil cycles, the average releases were 0.011 ± 0.005 µg/cm2 for NPs and 0.032 ± 0.016 µg/cm2 for MPs. These releases decreased to around 0.003 ± 0.002 µg/cm2 for NPs and 0.013 ± 0.007 µg/cm2 for MPs by the tenth boil, stabilizing at levels below 0.002 ± 0.001 µg/cm2 and 0.006 ± 0.004 µg/cm2, respectively following 50 boils. After 150 boil cycles, the release declined significantly to 0.0004 ± 0.0002 µg/cm2 for NPs and 0.002 ± 0.001 µg/cm2 for MPs. The release of particles followed first-order kinetics, indicating that the release rate was directly proportional to the concentration of particles on the kettle’s inner surface. Although the number of nanoparticles declined over time, their size remained constant, with modal diameters of approximately 210 nm (measured via nanoparticle tracking analysis) and 580 nm (measured using Microtrac Sync particle analysis).
 
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Sorry, what's a "plastic electric kettle"? Can you post a link or a picture? And can you post a picture of your own version that only has a plastic spout? Do you know what the plastic spout is made of (what kind of plastic)?

Thanks.
 
berkeman said:
Sorry, what's a "plastic electric kettle"? Can you post a link or a picture? And can you post a picture of your own version that only has a plastic spout? Do you know what the plastic spout is made of (what kind of plastic)?

Thanks.
My mother has one. Metal element at the bottom but the rest is some sort of heat resistant plastic. I will get an image.
 
At mother's today doing some work.

IMG_20260311_113126_010~2.webp
 
berkeman said:
Sorry, what's a "plastic electric kettle"? Can you post a link or a picture? And can you post a picture of your own version that only has a plastic spout? Do you know what the plastic spout is made of (what kind of plastic)?

Thanks.
Screenshot 2026-03-12 073923.webp


The spout is made of polypropylene. The inside is made of stainless steel coated with Fluorine coating. What do you guys make of Fluorine coating? Can it be toxic? So I can throw away the $100 kettle if the spout release microplastic and the fluorine is somehow toxic too.
 
Julian_M said:
Who are still using all plastic electric kettle here? The following paper says that boiling water in a plastic kettle can release over 10 million microplastic particles into just one litre of water. But I read it late and just bought last week a new $100 kettle with stainless steel inside but spout made of plastic, so I wonder if only the spout is plastic, how many millions of microplastic is released??

https://www.nature.com/articles/s44454-025-00018-w

Abstract​

Plastic products can release particles during everyday use, contaminating food and beverages and ultimately entering the human body through ingestion. However, the concentrations of these particles and the extent of human exposure remain poorly understood. While many studies have focused on characterizing the release of microplastics (MPs, > 1 μm), studies on nanoplastics (NPs, < 1 μm) remain limited due to significant analytical challenges associated with their small size. This study addressed this knowledge gap by investigating the release of both NPs and MPs from Australian-sourced polypropylene plastic kettles under normal use conditions using multiple orthogonal analytical techniques. During the initial boil cycles, the average releases were 0.011 ± 0.005 µg/cm2 for NPs and 0.032 ± 0.016 µg/cm2 for MPs. These releases decreased to around 0.003 ± 0.002 µg/cm2 for NPs and 0.013 ± 0.007 µg/cm2 for MPs by the tenth boil, stabilizing at levels below 0.002 ± 0.001 µg/cm2 and 0.006 ± 0.004 µg/cm2, respectively following 50 boils. After 150 boil cycles, the release declined significantly to 0.0004 ± 0.0002 µg/cm2 for NPs and 0.002 ± 0.001 µg/cm2 for MPs. The release of particles followed first-order kinetics, indicating that the release rate was directly proportional to the concentration of particles on the kettle’s inner surface. Although the number of nanoparticles declined over time, their size remained constant, with modal diameters of approximately 210 nm (measured via nanoparticle tracking analysis) and 580 nm (measured using Microtrac Sync particle analysis).
Darn, my hand-me-down kettle is plastic. Luckily, I have a metal stove top backup one. People in 100 years assuming no WW3 will look back at plastic the way people currently look back at lead (Pb) as being dangerous.
 
berkeman said:
Hmm. I boil my water in a 2-cup Pyrex glass measuring cup in a microwave oven and pour that hot water over my coffee grounds in a Chemex glass decanter. Would that be an option for you?

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Just make sure the water is not pure. Pure water in the microwave could become superheated.

https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitt...ng-products/microwave-ovens#Avoiding_Injuries
 
Glass kettle is not option for me because I need the lightest. I bought the following and it was just delivered but found out it is not Stainless Steel 304 but ordinary stainless steel. I heard water can smell metallic with these (not 304). But can it release toxic compounds or only cause rusts? If you only have 2 options, plastic polyethylene that releases billions of microplastics and stainless steel (not 304) that leech metal. Which is worse?

stainless kettle.webp
 
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I read stainless steel kettle can leech chromium and nickel, and these are not as dangerous as plastic kettle. I'm also looking for titanium kettle. I guess it is better than stainless steel kettle? I read one must look for "zero nickel migration" certificate when getting the stainless steel but most makes don't issue one. Here is the health hazard of plastic kettle:

https://fohen.co.uk/blogs/news/boiling-water-in-a-plastic-kettle-can-be-harmful-to-your-health

"Plastic kettles come with a number of risks to both us and the world around us. Here are the main ones to be aware of:

1. Microplastics
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, smaller than 5 millimetres in size, that come from larger plastic items breaking down - including plastic kettles.

While scientists are still studying the long-term effects of microplastics on human health, early research has found that microplastics might contribute to issues like:

Breathing problems, particularly for those with conditions like asthma or COPD.
Digestive troubles, such as inflammation, discomfort, and nausea. In some cases, microplastics can even build up in the gut, potentially causing blockages or other complications.
Hormonal imbalances from disrupting how our body produces or processes hormones, which can lead to reproductive issues, developmental challenges, and even a higher risk of certain cancers.
Weakened immunity, making it harder for your body to fend off infections and illnesses.
Neurological effects, as some microplastics may cross the blood-brain barrier, possibly contributing to anxiety, depression, or cognitive issues.
Boiling water in a plastic kettle can release over 10 million microplastic particles into just one litre of water. These can end up in your tea, coffee, or even your cooking when you use boiling water from the kettle. Switching to a non-plastic alternative is an easy way to help reduce you and your family’s exposure to these particles (and the planet will thank you, too!)."