The Financial Times reports that in order to bolster investment in the UK electric car supply chain, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) a government agency is considering reclassifying lithium, currently labelled ‘toxic’ under EU regulation (see the European Chemicals Agency website).
Lithium is used in electric vehicle batteries and governments all over the world are offering subsidies to promote investment in the mining, refining and construction of gigafactories.
Dr. Nikhil Koratkar, Professor in Engineering at New York’s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (below right), explains that nearly every metal and chemical process involved in the lithium battery manufacturing chain creates health hazards at some point between sourcing and disposal. He continues:
“The organic liquids used in most electrolyte formulations are both mildly toxic when ingested and can irritate the eyes and skin. Inhaling their vapors may cause nausea, vomiting, or headaches. Overexposure to lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) salts affects the digestive, circulatory, respiratory, and nervous systems, skin, and bones. Ingestion is the most dangerous path of entry into the body, but inhalation and skin contact can also be harmful.
“The only true option is to move away from lithium-based chemistries completely. Technologies currently under development leverage metals and materials that are dramatically less toxic, or inherently non-toxic. These batteries should pose fewer risks across every step of the battery lifecycle, from sourcing to manufacture to disposal”.
O
o
o
o
o
Health Concern 
Leave a comment