![]() Lithium isn’t the only problematic metal in lithium-ion batteries. ![]() Cobalt: turning our world blue, not green Exposure to ionic lithium, which is present in both anode material and electrolyte salts, has both acute and chronic health effects on the central nervous system. Lithium compounds in finished batteries generally contain lithium in ionic form, which is less reactive than lithium metal and presents fewer flammability hazards. By-products of the brine extraction process can include everything from sulfuric acid and radioactive uranium to lime and magnesium waste, all of which can increase rates of cancer and other diseases in nearby communities. Once evaporation is complete, lithium salts are separated from other deposits and sent away for processing. Approximately 500,000 gallons of brine must be extracted to produce one metric ton of lithium, which significantly impacts the amount of water available for drinking and agriculture in regions such as Chile’s Atacama Desert. Much of the world’s lithium is extracted by tapping into underground “brine” deposits, pumping water rich in lithium salts into large evaporation ponds. And while lithium can be toxic in doses as low as 1.5 to 2.5 mEq/L in blood serum, the bigger issues in lithium-ion batteries arise from the organic solvents used in battery cells and byproducts associated with the sourcing and manufacturing processes. Lithium is used for many purposes, including treatment of bipolar disorder. Nearly every metal and chemical process involved in the lithium battery manufacturing chain creates health hazards at some point between sourcing and disposal, and some are toxic at every step. It’s easy to assume that these batteries are safe for people and the environment given their ubiquity, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. And every day, thousands of new batteries roll off the assembly lines-and thousands more find their way into landfills and rivers. Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere, from the tiny ones in your earbuds to the massive ones in stationary storage installations. Crossan Chair Professor in Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Nikhil Koratkar, co-founder of Alsym Energy, John A.
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