More than 80% of the batteries produced in China are disposable alkaline zinc dry batteries, and their main components are heavy metals such as manganese, mercury, zinc and chromium. No matter whether the waste battery is exposed to the atmosphere or buried underground, its heavy metal components will overflow with leachate, causing pollution of groundwater and soil, which will seriously endanger human health over time.
Mercury, cadmium, zinc, lead and chromium are classified as hazardous wastes in 1998 Catalogue of Hazardous Wastes.
Mercury: Eating food contaminated with mercury can cause methylmercury poisoning, joint pain, dizziness, numbness of limbs, memory loss, insanity and even death, and it can also lead to fetal malformation in pregnant women.
Lead: Eating food containing lead will affect the synthesis of enzymes and normal heme, and affect the nervous system. Lead accumulates in bones and kidneys, which has potential long-term effects.
Cadmium: entering the bone causes bone pain, osteomalacia and atrophy, and is prone to pathological fractures. It will hurt to die if you don't eat at last.
Chromium: Chromium enters the body and distributes in the liver and kidneys, leading to hepatitis and nephritis.
The components of these batteries are sealed in the battery box during the use of the battery, which will not affect the environment. However, after long-term mechanical wear and corrosion, heavy metals, acid-base liquids, etc. leak out, enter soil and water sources, and then enter the human food chain through various channels.
Heavy metals ingested by various organisms on the earth from the environment can accumulate in higher organisms step by step through the biomagnification of food chains at all levels, and then enter people's bodies through food, and accumulate in some organs to cause chronic poisoning. For more information about the hazards of waste batteries and their recycling trends, please visit China E-waste website www.1885167.com.