Oh dear- who's been throwing batteries in the bin?!

[WheezyRider]

The batteries, which are found in billions of consumer devices like smartphones and tablets, were found to leak more than 100 toxic gases including carbon monoxide. The gases, which are potentially fatal, can cause strong irritation to the skin, eyes and nasal passages, and harm the wider environment.

Lithium-ion batteries found to produce toxic gases

Lithium-ion batteries can produce dozens of dangerous gases when overheated, according to a new study from the Institute of NBC Defence and Tsinghua University in China.

eandt.theiet.org

Do you need any further infos? If yes, just ask, as there is a big bundle of information on the internet about the dangers of certain cell types.
Furthermore, different company's add slightly different chemicals to the "mix", making it difficult to know what levels of poison are developed.
A recent announcement from Tesla, suggests that they are not going to use Lithium batteries in their cars anymore in 2021, for reasons of safety!
These videos will educate you further, if you watch them:-

Andy

Seems like two things are getting confused here. One is the risk of exposure to toxic compounds formed during the combustion of lithium batteries, the other is from the slow leaching of battery components from batteries left in land fill sites.

Lithium ion batteries contain metals such as Lithium, Cobalt and Manganese amongst others, but also a lot of organic compounds such as solvents and room temperature ionic liquids, or inorganic ions.

For organic solvents, these are typically Ethylene Carbonate, Diethyl Carbonate or Dimethyl Carbonate, N-Methyl Pyrrolidone etc.

Inorganic ions can be: LiPF6, LiBF4, LiClO4

Room temperature ionic liquids include compounds such as 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium-tetrafluoroborate.

During combustion Carbon Monoxide can be produced, which is problematic in confined spaces, it can kill quickly and silently. But it is not a persistent contaminant of the environment. The Fluorinated compounds could create Hydrofluoric Acid in a fire. Again, not a persistent compound, but very, very nasty if you get it on your skin or you breathe it in.

In terms of leaching into the environment, Cobalt compounds are suspected carcinogens, but I would be most worried about the organic components of the batteries.

They can range from being classed as irritants to teratogenic, to highly toxic, depending on the compounds that are used.

e.g.:

1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate

1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate | C8H15BF4N2 | CID 2734178 - structure, chemical names, physical and chemical properties, classification, patents, literature, biological activities, safety/hazards/toxicity information, supplier lists, and more.

pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

At present, very little Lithium cell recycling is undertaken, so a lot will be ending up in landfill.

 

[WheezyRider]

I think its more the case that we quote what we mere humans on planet earth can do, therefore "matter can neither be created or destroyed".

Enabling me to have the comforting thought that I have always existed and always will, you'll never get rid of me!
.

Hmmm, but then don't all your atoms belong to the people who were around before you? Who has the prior claim?

Then you are shedding atoms all the time. Your teeth are probably the only part of you that is original, from the time your body made them, the rest is changing all the time (so you're not the man you used to be ).

I suppose it depends on whether you think we are all made of star dust, or are simply nuclear waste...

In terms of leaving a mark on the world, instead of worrying about atoms that are fickle, and "I think therefore I am" it is better to say "I write, therefore I was".

On that score you will be fine Flecc, with all your invaluable contributions to this forum