2024-07-12 21:14:11
Batteries found in cellphones, electric cars and most modern appliances contain toxic “perpetual chemicals” that linger in air and water, a new study claims.
US scientists have found that rechargeable lithium-ion batteries release harmful substances (called PFAS) into the environment during production and after disposal. PFAS are called ”eternal chemicals” because they never leave the body after they are consumed, it says Dailymail.
They are linked to serious health problems, including cancer, high cholesterol, reduced kidney function, thyroid disease, low fertility, immune system problems and low birth weight babies. There are concerns that they may affect children’s growth, learning and behavioral development.
PFAS chemicals have already been found in food products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, as a result of pesticide contamination.
The chemical of particular concern is called bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimide (bis-FASI), which is currently unregulated but has been found to be just as toxic as the infamous PFOA, which is found in pesticides, waterproof coatings and some types of paints.
Lithium-ion batteries are used in electric cars, mobile phones, medical devices, smart watches, laptops and other electronics.
Only five percent of lithium-ion batteries are recycled, and estimates are that by 2040, around eight million tons of waste will end up in landfills.