Lithium-ion Batteries Polluting Clean Energy Revolution
Demand for lithium-ion batteries surges with the demand increase of electric vehicles (EV), igniting fears of lithium-ion battery pollution complicating the clean energy transition.
Despite their cause to revolutionize clean energy, the toxic chemicals inside these batteries are putting environmental and health risks.
Lithium-Ion Battery Production Pollution
Lithium-Ion Batteries contain persistent “forever chemicals,” including PFAS used in electrolytes and components like binders and separators that stay in the environment. Despite PFAS’ effectiveness, it carries serious health problems, like cancer, damaging immune system, fertility and others.
According to a Texas Tech University and Duke University published study, lithium-ion battery environmental pollution comes from PFAS existence. The process of Lithium battery production pollution happens when the chemicals leach from the batteries and contaminate air and water.
Battery composition pollution is the flame retardants put in to ensure fire safety to reduce the risk of fire. However, they’re not that effective in real-life scenarios and, obviously, flame retardants can make fires more toxic and dangerous.
Flame retardants causing Lithium-ion battery pollution to have the same potential of environmental pollution and health risks as PFAS.
Do Safer Batteries Exist?
Lithium-ion battery pollution does not eliminate the potential of having environmental-friendly batteries. Despite all the challenges, solutions exist. Companies like Nanoramic and Dragonfly Energy have developed lithium-ion batteries free from PFAS with low environmental footprints.
Lithium-ion battery manufacturing pollution can be prevented by replacing better manufacturing process developments, better battery management systems, and the transition to solid-state batteries could avoid using harmful flame retardants in the future while raising the bar on fire safety improvements.
As industries prevent lithium battery mining pollution by transitioning into the clean energy future, it’s important that the technologies adopted now do not create new environmental and health problems. The revolution in clean energy should be truly sustainable.
Lithium-ion batteries are key to shifting away from fossil fuels, however, their effects on the environment cannot be ignored. Chemicals causing lithium battery plant pollution (PFAS and flame retardants) pose significant problems to humans and the environment.
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