Doc7505
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- Feb 16, 2016
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Electric Vehicle Batteries Surprising New Source of
'Forever Chemical' Pollution
Electric Vehicle Batteries Surprising New Source of 'Forever Chemical' Pollution
Scientists have uncovered a new source of hazardous "forever chemical" pollution: the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries found in most electric vehicles.
www.sciencealert.com
Scientists have uncovered a new source of hazardous "forever chemical" pollution: the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries found in most electric vehicles.
Some lithium-ion battery technologies use a class of PFAS chemicals, or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, that helps make batteries less flammable and conduct electricity.
Scientists found high levels of these PFAS in air, water, snow, soil, and sediment samples near plants that make those chemicals in the US, Belgium, and France, according to a peer-reviewed study in the journal Nature Communications.
PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" because they build up quickly in the environment, people, and animals and don't break down for thousands of years. They've been linked to a host of health conditions, including liver damage, high cholesterol, low birth weights, and chronic kidney disease.
The findings underscore how switching to cleaner cars and renewable energy is key to solving the climate crisis, but comes with its own set of trade-offs that are still emerging and understudied.
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It's hard to know just how widespread the chemicals are in specific lithium-ion batteries because there isn't enough research yet, Lee Ferguson, associate professor of environmental engineering at Duke University and coauthor of the study, said.
Guelfo said bis-FASIs is comparable to "older notorious" chemicals like PFOA, in part because they are extremely difficult to degrade and studies show the chemicals change the behavior of aquatic organisms at low concentrations. PFOA has been phased out of production in the US but continues to pollute drinking water.
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Companies including 3M, Solvay, and Arkema either hold patents for bis-FASIs or advertise its production or use, the study said. Scientists focused their research on areas near the companies' manufacturing plants in Minnesota, Kentucky, Antwerp, Belgium, and Salindres, France.
3M has manufactured PFAS for decades and last year agreed to a $10 billion settlement with US cities and towns over their claims that the company contaminated drinking water with forever chemicals. 3M said it will exit all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025.
The company's settlement followed another agreement by Chemours, DuPont and Corteva to pay $1.19 billion to help resolve thousands of lawsuits.
Commentary:
The old school marxists of the 1930s-1980s had their own obvious ecological disasters, caused by the forced, mandated pursuit of their asinine ideology.
And it seems the Neo-Marxists of the 21st century have theirs, too.
It may come as a surprise to brain dead progressive Neo-Marxists Democrats...
Everything they try to make better, they end up actually creating more problems than what they are trying to “Fix”.
First it was Mercury causes by Batteries, then it was the Ni-Cad Batteries and we've come full circle with Lithium Batteries.
Thank you EPA.. Nothing says saving the environment like creating more superfund sites...or polluting our native streams.
Why would this be surprising? It’s entirely expected.
