Welder here. Aluminum oxide inhalation is correlated with an increased risk for alzheimers, not cancer. Hexavalent chromium is a carcinogen, and that comes from heating up stainless steels. So you are actively replacing a relatively non toxic oxide with the potential for an actually toxic carcinogenic gaseous metal, assuming your pocket knife is some sort of stainless steel (statistically very likely).
You’re probably still getting some steel in the weed. It is very unlikely the knife and the grinder share the exact hardness.
But I’d rather have steel than aluminum in my weed. Aluminum oxide fumes are carcinogenic when inhaled, so I’d rather avoid it.
I realize worrying about cancer when talking about smoking is ironic, but still.
Welder here. Aluminum oxide inhalation is correlated with an increased risk for alzheimers, not cancer. Hexavalent chromium is a carcinogen, and that comes from heating up stainless steels. So you are actively replacing a relatively non toxic oxide with the potential for an actually toxic carcinogenic gaseous metal, assuming your pocket knife is some sort of stainless steel (statistically very likely).