Batteries in mobile phones, electric cars and most modern gadgets contain toxic ‘everlasting chemicals’ that are increasingly found in our air and water, a study has found.
American scientists have discovered that rechargeable lithium-ion batteries leak harmful substances called PFAS into the environment during production and after disposal.
One chemical of particular concern is bis-perfluoroalkylsulfonimide (bis-FASI). This chemical is currently unregulated, but has been shown to be as toxic as the infamous PFOA, which is found in pesticides, waterproof coatings and certain types of paint.
PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they do not leave the body after they are ingested.
Lithium-ion batteries are seen as part of the solution to global greenhouse gas emissions, but researchers fear they could produce chemicals harmful to humans
Lithium-ion batteries are used in most modern consumer electronics, but they can leak “perpetual chemicals” during manufacturing and after disposal
They have been linked to serious health problems, including cancer, high cholesterol, decreased kidney function, thyroid disease, low fertility, suppressed immune systems and low birth weight in babies.
There are also concerns that they affect the growth, learning and behavioural development of babies and children.
PFAS chemicals have previously been found in foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, as a result of pesticide contamination.
Lithium-ion batteries are seen as a key component of the growing clean energy infrastructure. They are found in electric cars, mobile phones, medical devices, smart watches, laptops and other electronics.
Demand is expected to grow exponentially over the next decade, but batteries only last so long before needing to be replaced.
Currently, only five percent of lithium-ion batteries are recycled. Studies predict that by 2040, as many as eight million tons of these batteries will end up in landfills.
The researchers from universities in Texas and North Carolina studied 75 surface water, five tap water, two groundwater, one snow, 15 sediment and 21 soil samples from 87 locations worldwide, including Belgium and France.
They found bis-FASI chemicals from battery factories and areas where they had been dumped.
The data also show that bis-FASI air emissions can facilitate long-distance transport, meaning that areas far from production sites could also be affected.
Professor Jennifer Guelfo of Texas Tech University said: ‘Our results reveal a dilemma associated with the production, disposal and recycling of clean energy infrastructure.
‘It is of great importance to reduce CO2 emissions with innovations such as electric cars, but this should not lead to an increase in PFAS pollution.
“We need to enable technologies, production controls and recycling solutions that can tackle the climate crisis without releasing highly persistent pollutants.”
Analysis of several municipal landfills in the US has shown high levels of bis-FASI, indicating that these substances can enter the environment through the disposal of products such as lithium-ion batteries.
Toxicity tests have shown that concentrations of bis-FASI comparable to those at the sampling sites are highly hazardous to fish.
The toxicity of Bis-FASI has not yet been studied in humans, although other, better-studied PFAS have been linked to several serious health risks.
Tests have shown that bis-FASI does not break down during oxidation, meaning they may persist in the environment forever.
However, the researchers found that the concentrations of bis-FASI in water could be reduced using granular activated carbon and ions.
Lee Ferguson of Duke University in North Carolina said: ‘These results show that treatment approaches designed for PFOA and PFOS can also remove bis-FASIs.
‘We must harness the expertise of scientists, engineers, sociologists and policymakers to develop and promote clean energy infrastructure while minimizing the ecological footprint.
“We must use the momentum behind current energy initiatives to ensure that new energy technologies are truly clean.”
The study found that bis-FASIs are used in lithium-ion battery electrolytes and binders. Other chemicals used in the batteries do not meet the definition of PFAS.
