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Hazards of Household Batteries

© Patricia M. Theison

HAZARDS OF HOUSEHOLD BATTERIES by P. Theison

MERCURY - Chemical symbol: HG; Atomic weight: 200.59; Atomic symbol: 80. Mercury is a metal that flows so free that it was named for the messenger of the Gods in Roman Mythology. It is sometimes known as quicksilver and is the only metal that stays in a liquid form at ordinary temperatures. One of it's most unusual properties is that it contracts and expands in regular degrees when heated and cooled thus the reason that it is used in thermometers and barometers. It is also poisonous. Batteries used around the house account for more than one half of the mercury in our trash. Mercury and it's lethal properties can be released into the air from incinerators or can leach into the ground from landfills. It is predicted that even though the battery industry has greatly reduced the used mercury content in household batteries, they still will remain the single largest source of mercury in our landfills by the year 2000. About 50% of the mercury used in the United States is used in batteries and it is estimated that 75% of all batteries used in the U.S are the alkaline type which are 1% mercury. The average annual use of mercury in batteries exceeds the federal limits on mercury allowed in garbage by 4 times. About 40% of all battery sales are made during the Christmas season. People in 20 states have been warned not to eat fish from certain waters due to mercury poisoning. Fish taken in two Illinois lakes, Kincaid Lake and Cedar Lake were reported to contain excess amounts of mercury. The fish species tested were large mouth bass, small mouth bass, and spotted bass. Mercury was not found in the water. Predator fish high in the food chain tend to absorb the highest amounts of mercury from their diets. The fish that they feed on eat contaminated plants or other mercury laden food. Examples of the predator fish are bass and crappie which are two of the biggest game fish in North America. Forty percent of the dead beluga whales retrieved from the St. Lawrence River died of cancer due to chemical contamination. Forty five of the corpses were so heavily contaminated with heavy metals such as mercury, lead, organochlorines like mirex, DDT and PCBS, and benzo a pyrene that they had to be disposed of as toxic waste. The chemicals have gravely damaged the whales' reproductive systems and weakened their immune systems. It is feared that a viral infection or an oil spill could wipe them out. Around 1900 there were an estimated 10,000 belugas. Now it is believed that there are fewer than 500. Prolonged exposure to mercury can make people extremely sick and can affect their behavior. In the 1600's hatmakers used mercury to treat felt and fur. They began acting strangely and no one knew at that time that the hatmakers were showing signs of mercury poisoning. Everybody assumed that they were crazy - hence the term, "mad as a hatter" and the Mad Hatter at Alice's tea party. Mercury poisoning due to the consumption of contaminated fish has been associated with damage to the nervous system and kidneys. Pregnant women, their unborn babies and very young children are most susceptible. Nervous systems of fetuses and children are more sensitive due to the fact that they are still maturing. Salts of mercury and other metals cause a kidney malady called Bright's disease or nephritis - inflammation of the kidney not resulting from infection in the kidney. The average citizen can do quite a bit to help save people and animals from mercury poisoning. The following steps can help reduce the amount of mercury that is being released into the ground and into the air. If you use cylindrical batteries ( the kind used in flashlights) buy the ones with the lowest mercury content. The carbon zinc batteries use no mercury, but unfortunately, don't last as long as the alkaline ones. When cylindrical batteries "die", send them back to the manufacturer and request that they be recycled. Europe and Japan are ahead of the U.S. in battery recycling technology. If enough consumers demand battery recycling, it will become routine. Most watches and hearing aids use button batteries that can recycled. Send them back to the manufacturer or call the Illinois EPA to find the nearest recycling center. Use rechargeable batteries. Even though rechargeable batteries contain cadmium, which is also poisonous to the environment, they are better to use than the single use alkaline ones. A rechargeable battery can be used up to 1000 times before it is discarded. Send the used rechargeable batteries back to the manufacturer or retail dealer for recycling. There is research being done on cadmium free rechargeable batteries that could be available within the next few years. Buy items that use solar batteries. There are many calculators, watches and toys that use solar power. Inform people of the dangers of mercury poisoning and the roll that the disposal of household batteries plays in it's cause. Pressure retail outlets and manufacturers to accept batteries for recycling. Form a group to collect used household batteries and everyone donate a little towards postage to send them to the manufacturers. Even a small group or an individual CAN make "the big guys" take notice! Write your legislators and demand that they push for battery recycling in your state. ©1999 PTheison