Ion Gaftoneanu, a pensioner from Suceava (Romania), collects thousands of used batteries on a monthly basis, which he takes to the special collection centers where he leaves them for recycling factories. Given that a pill-type battery containing mercury can pollute 500 liters of water or a square meter of soil over a 50-year period, anyone could imagine how many acres of land and how many liters of water Mr. Gaftoneanu saves by collecting thousands of batteries for recycling every month.
Used batteries, some of the most polluting and dangerous waste that should NEVER be dumped anywhere, in nature or discarded to landfills
After the batteries are emptied, they continue to produce chemical reactions as toxic metal oxides poisoning living organisms. Metals contained in batteries can cause allergies, sterility, memory loss, heart disease, cancer, and other extremely serious diseases. When soil and water are contaminated, these substances reach the body of plants and animals, accumulating along the trophic chains. Following the human consumption of these plants and animals, poisoning occurs and irreversibly affect the our health.
- Mercury is the most dangerous substance used in the manufacture of batteries. In contact with water, it forms the methyl-mercury a carcinogenic substance which seriously affects the nervous system and the kidneys. A pill-type battery containing mercury can pollute 500 liters of water or one square meter of soil over a period of 50 years.
- Lead is another dangerous substance that affects the nervous system and excretory and reproductive systems and if it is burned it can be transported over long distances by the wind.
- Nickel affects the skin if it comes in direct contact with it, in addition once released into the air and inhaled, it causes airway inflammation and lung cancer.
- Cadmium is another carcinogenic substance that causes serious injury if ingested or inhaled.
- Lithium severely affects the nervous system, the kidneys, the airways and the heart of those intoxicated with this substance.