He electric car It is not ecological in itself: it does not emit polluting gases when driving, but its manufacture is not free of carbon footprint. The battery is one of its most controversial elements. Because of its recycling but also because of its components such as the sought-after lithium, whose extraction can threaten the environment.
Now a new study concludes that many of the lithium ion batteries are being conceived with harmful and polluting substances, both for water and air. And not only during their manufacture, but also during their use and when recycling or disposing of them.
Batteries with “forever pollutants” harmful to animals and possibly humans
Signed by Texas Tech University and published in Nature Communicationsit is a peer-reviewed study, an arbitration that requires the contrast of experts in the field. The report does not go against the electric car: considers them “fundamental” to reduce emissions. But it does emphasize that should not have “polluting side effects.”
Specifically, it reveals that a new generation of lithium-ion batteries is being used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries. New subclass of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS)components that are “a growing source of air and water pollution.” They are known as “eternal pollutants”, since they do not degrade.
Specifically, these are PFAS called bis-perfluoroalquil sulfonamides (bis-FASI)whose environmental persistence and ecotoxicity is comparable to older compounds such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
“Our results reveal a dilemma associated with manufacturing, disposal and recycling of clean energy infrastructure“, they explain. And while the electric car is vital to reduce emissions, it is necessary to “facilitate technologies, manufacturing controls and recycling solutions that can combat the climate crisis without releasing highly recalcitrant pollutants.”
The presence of these eternal pollutants has been discovered in research using air, water, snow, soil and sediment samples near battery manufacturing plants in Minnesota, Kentucky, Belgium and France. The concentration of bis-FASI in these samples was “generally very high.”
They also recall that these bis-PFAS are toxic to aquatic animals and plants, as they can affect their metabolism. The effect on humans has not been studied, although they point out that other PFAS are linked to effects such as cancer or infertility, among others. And not only in water, They can also cover long distances if they concentrate in the air.so areas far from factories could also be affected.
Electric cars and batteries, yes, but with less pollution. The solution is not to stop manufacturing batteries, but to improve the processes taking this into account. Not only electric cars need them, but also a host of electronic products such as mobile phones. Car batteries are larger, of course, and will grow exponentially as electric cars become more popular.
Thus, they point out that the data demonstrate that these concentrations of bis-FASI could be reduced in water with granular activated carbon and ion exchangeThese methods are already used to remove PFAS from drinking water.
But the same should apply to disposal and recycling: samples were taken from landfills in the USA where these compounds were also found. In any case, few batteries are recycled: 5% according to this study. Thus, they predict that some 8 million tons of waste will be generated by these devices by 2040.
In short, they argue that it is essential to improve battery manufacturing processes to minimize the environmental footprint. This is the case with the batteries themselves. Electric cars, whose production has a higher carbon footprint than gasoline carsaccording to a study published by Volvo.
This is due to the greenhouse gases produced by the extraction and processing of lithium, in addition to those produced by steel and aluminium, which are also present in cars and batteries.
Source: www.motorpasion.com
