The green energy transition, which hinges heavily on lithium-ion batteries, may be a hidden and potentially escalating source of chemical pollution, a recent study published in Nature suggests.
The study delves into the environmental risks associated with the chemicals used in the components of these batteries, a critical area of concern as Western policymakers increasingly lean on this technology to replace fossil fuel-based infrastructure and achieve long-term emissions reduction targets.
According to the Daily Caller, the study conducted a comprehensive "cradle-to-grave evaluation" and collected numerous samples from the U.S. and Europe. The authors concluded that the clean energy sector could be an "unrecognized and potentially growing source" of chemical pollution. The escalating global prominence of lithium-ion batteries makes the pollution from their waste "an issue of global concern."
The study zeroes in on a specific type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) known as bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides (bis-FASIs), along with other chemicals used in battery manufacturing. PFAS chemicals are notorious for being "recalcitrant contaminants, a subset of which are known to be mobile and toxic." However, the environmental impacts of bis-FASIs released during the manufacture, use, and disposal of lithium-ion batteries remain largely unknown, the authors noted.
P. Lee Ferguson, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Duke University and a co-author of the study, emphasized the need for careful management of PFAS-containing lithium-ion batteries during disposal or recycling to prevent environmental release. He expressed hope that their work would "catalyze more discussions about the life-cycle considerations for materials used in applications such as clean energy generation and storage."
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries play a pivotal role in green energy systems and electric vehicles (EVs), and are also used in devices like cell phones, laptops, and medical devices. With demand for these batteries expected to skyrocket in the coming decade and beyond, and a recycling rate of a mere 5%, the world could be grappling with up to 8 million tons of battery waste by 2040, the study estimates.
The study also warns of the "potential for widespread environmental releases" of PFAS during the manufacture, use, recycling, and disposal of lithium-ion batteries. This revelation challenges the notion that lithium-ion batteries, often touted as a solution for reducing pollution, are a clear-cut environmental solution. Policymakers and environmentalists may need to weigh the potential trade-offs.
Jennifer Guelfo, an assistant professor of environmental engineering at Texas Tech University and a co-author of the study, underscored the importance of both upscaling clean and sustainable energy infrastructure and reducing aquatic pollution. She noted that the study highlights a potential conflict between these two objectives, but stressed that it doesn't have to be that way. She called on scientists, engineers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to assess the potential environmental risks of the compounds used within infrastructure, hoping that the study would underscore the need for such assessments.
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