464 Preventing and Reducing Harm from Toxics
Battery recycling
Lead acid batteries from cars are commonly recycled for the metals they
contain. In most places, this is not an organized industrial process, but is
done in homes and backyards. Battery recycling creates serious lead pollution,
damaging health and the environment. Short-term exposure to high levels of
lead can cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions (seizures, “fits”), coma, or even
death (see pages 368 to 370).
In some places, small household batteries are taken apart and the black
powder inside is used to make dyes, inks, and cosmetics. This powder is very
poisonous and should never be used for these purposes. It is made of cadmium,
lead, zinc, mercury, and other toxic heavy metals. If the powder is used, it
should be handled with gloves and face masks, and the waste disposed of safely.
Reducing harm
The best way to reduce exposure to toxins in batteries is for battery producers
to collect used batteries and make sure they are recycled under safe conditions.
Some countries have laws regulating safe battery recycling.
Electronics recycling
Producing electronic equipment, such as computers, televisions, cell phones,
and radios, requires a large amount of resources. Electronic equipment
also contains many toxics such as lead, cadmium, barium, mercury, flame
retardants (see page 372), PCBs, and PVC plastic (see page 341).
Electronics often end up in landfills where the
toxics they contain leach into groundwater. Or
they are taken apart and the materials they
contain are recycled, often by hand, using
dangerous solvents. This causes serious
health problems for the people doing the
recycling, and moves the toxic materials
into other products that will cause more
health problems later.
The safest solution is to require
companies that produce electronics to
take responsibility for safe recycling
and to redesign their products to use
less harmful materials and to last longer.
And the people who buy and use electronic
products can reduce harmful waste by having
them fixed when they break rather than
throwing them out.
Wearing masks, gloves, and other
protective equipment will help protect
people who recycle computer parts.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012