Lithium+Ion+Batteries

=__Lithium Ion Batteries and Lithium in the Environment__= By: Matthew Scuderi & Barry McGrorty 3/14/10 C-Band Quarter Three BioChem Benchmark

This is an information wiki about how lithium and how it plays a role in our environment and how it affects us. Lithium is a alkali metal that is used in medicine to treat mental illnesses, mechanics as a lubricant, and as a daily supplement found in some fruit veggies. When exposed to the environment it vast amounts and when in the metal form, lithium is extremely toxic and corrosive. Lithium is not a very expensive resource but it is a non-renewable resource and so if there is not much of it, it becomes more expensive. Under 70mg of lithium is annual amount of lithium the average human takes in, which is healthy and necessary in order to keep mental healthiness. However, when lithium is in it’s metal form it reacts with hydrogen, nitrogen, and/or oxygen and become toxic and corrosive and it causes respiratory, reproductive, nervous, and other problems to occur in the human body. We support the production of lithium and the fact that it is in the environment naturally, but we don’t support the fact that when waste is dumped into the environment, lithium becomes dangerous. We urge people with lithium based products to dispose of these products properly so that lithium doesn’t build up in the environment and so that organisms as well as humans are not harmed by the effects of lithium in the environment. **
 * Abstract:


 * Background:**

Lithium –Ion batteries are found in everything from laptops to calculators. Lithium is also found in high temperature lubricants, cars (as an absorbent of carbon dioxide), aircraft, medicine, etc. The positives that lithium has on humans are that it has many used for mechanical applications as well as health applications because it serves as an anti-depressant in medicine and prevents manic symptoms. As of now, scientists are unsure as to how, but lithium is a natural anti-depressant. Doses of lithium are often prescribed to those who suffer from depression, anxiety, and a plethora of other social, psychological, and mental disorders. We basically use this chemical for medicine and in the mechanical field and it is proven useful in both fields. Lithium is used and found in Southern and Northern America as well as some countries in the eastern hemisphere such as Australia, China, Africa, Russia, and so on (refer to Fig.1 for main lithium deposits). Lithium is practically everywhere because it is in most vegetables as well as soils and igneous rocks.

Fig. 1




 * Chemistry:**





Lithium is and alkali metal found in small parts mainly in igneous rocks and in water of mineral springs. The solid metal state of lithium is created through electrolytically from fused chloride. Lithium is an alloy made up of aluminum and magnesium and is used commonly in batteries, greases/lubricants, glass, and in medicine. Lithium reacts with water and oxygen and is highly flammable. Under different conditions, lithium can react with sulfur, hydrogen, halogens, and nitrogen. When reacting with some acids, lithium gives off hydrogen gas. Isotopes of lithium are also found to be commonly radioactive. Some compounds that lithium makes up are lithium carbonate (Li2CO3), which makes glass and ceramic materials stronger and lithium stearate, which is added to petroleum in order to make thick lubricating grease. Lithium is also used in aluminum production. Lithium is generally a stable element in the environment. Lithium affects the environment when it is in it’s metal form because it reacts with nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen and can become corrosive, which can harm marine organisms.


 * Human Health Implications:**

Health effects of Lithium are that it gives off toxic fumes and can cause irritation. Lithium can also cause burning when inhaled, shortness of breath, sore throat, skin burns, blisters, red eyes, abdominal cramps when ingested, nausea, etc. When ingested or inhaled, lithium can become very corrosive and it becomes even more dangerous. Overall lithium effects the respiratory, nervous, and digestion system. Aside from the health effects, lithium is extremely flammable. Lithium is a corrosive metal, in other words, it cannot be handled without protective gear, and over time, it will eat away at certain materials. It is not, however, as corrosive as other alkali metals. Lithium is a bio-accumulative toxin, in other words, something minimally harmful that builds up and contaminates an area.


 * Environmental/Political/Economical Implication:**

Although more environmentally friendly than their predecessor, lead-acid batteries, Lithium-Ion batteries still contain many heavy metals including cobalt, which is a bioaccumulative toxin or a material that can build up in the environment and cause problems. However, lithium isn’t all bad. Lithium is again used in the medical field and the mechanical field as well. Lithium serves as a necessary component to nutrition because it prevents any mental disorders or manic symptoms.

As far as the environment, lithium does occur naturally and doesn’t really impact the environment unless it becomes corrosive once it is in it’s metal form. Lithium can impact the environment by seeping into marine habitats and polluting the water and killing off many of the organisms in it. When lithium is present in the environment in large amounts, it is toxic to plants even though lithium is found in many plants and even in soil naturally. When in the environment, lithium begins to react with nitrogen and oxygen.

In order to dispose of lithium related products, such as lithium ion batteries, you must bring the battery to a center where professionals dispose of the battery, but the federal government classifies that lithium batteries are not hazardous waste. Lithium is a very important element to mechanical applications and medicine, so if it were banned, the production of products in the mechanical felid would be lessened as well as medicines used to treat mental illness. If lithium were to be banned in products, lubricants/greases, certain medicines, ion batteries, etc. would not be sold and the economy as well as many of the people in the work force would suffer a little. Most countries export lithium but mainly North America and Russia.

If lithium were to be banned, it would affect me by restricting use of my camera and my use of lubrications/grease when working at my job. Overall the banning of lithium based products would not hurt the economy so much, but it would make it difficult in order to do some of the tasks that we do at times requiring a product made from lithium.


 * Summary:

Lithium is highly beneficial in many applications. Based on the health factors that are caused by lithium, it should not enter the environment any other way other than naturally. When lithium enter the environment in excess it does more harm than it does good and it places many organisms as well as ecosystems in danger. In order to prevent lithium from entering the environment, it must be disposed of properly. Lithium is found in products such as lithium-ion batteries, cell phones, calculators, mechanical lubricants, medicine, natural soil and veggies, and many other products. Banning lithium would hurt the economy because of the sales of lithium based products. So for a safer and cleaner environment, dispose of any lithium products properly instead of just throwing them in the trash because it all ends up in the environment.

PSA:

media type="file" key="medium.m4v" width="300" height="300" http://teachertube.com/members/viewVideo.php?video_id=167802&title=Lithium_PSA

Citations:**

Cerner Multum, CM.INC. (2009, April 4). //Lithium//. Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/lithium.htm

Jaffe, D.J. (2009). //All About Lithium//. Retrieved from []

Lenntech, BV. (n.d.). //Lithium (li) chemical properties//. Retrieved from []

How Stuff Works.com,. (2010). //How Lithium-ion batteries work//. Retrieved from http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/lithium-ion-battery.htm