Lead Battery Facts

Aside from exhaust pipe emissions, lead batteries have the most detrimental environmental impact of any part of an automobile. Every car made today contains approximately 27 pounds of lead - most of which is in the battery[1]. Lead batteries are also widely used for forklifts, golf carts, and for backup power in the computer, solar, and telecommunication industries.

Inefficient production and recycling operations release tons of lead into the environment. During battery manufacturing and recycling operations, lead is melted and resulting fumes are released into the air. This toxic metal is then available for human absorption while airborne, before settling in dust and soil. Lead contamination persists in dust and soil and is often the most significant route of exposure to young children who generally play close to the ground and have regular hand-to-mouth contact. In addition, environmental contamination of ground and surface water may also occur. Lead from these sources is bioaccumulative and has significant adverse impacts on all species. This natural resource is being widely used in this unsustainable manner with implications for the health of natural ecosystems and humans. Consider the following facts:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 120 million people are over exposed to lead (approximately three times the number infected by HIV/AIDS) and 99 percent of the most severely affected are in the developing world.[2]

• In the U.S., over 88% of all lead production goes into batteries.[3]

Isn't it true that over 90 percent of all batteries are recycled?

• Although recycling rates for lead batteries are very high, the process can cause a significant amount of lead to be emitted into the environment unless it is done in proper facilities. In the developing world, used lead batteries are routinely melted down for scrap in backyards and on the side of roads in urban areas.

Are more lead batteries made in developing countries to avoid U.S. pollution control laws?

• Many imported lead batteries enter the U.S. in new cars, which account for almost half of all new car sales, but even more are imported for the replacement market.[4][5] Imports of lead batteries to the U.S. are rising rapidly as production shifts to developing countries with fewer environmental regulations and less enforcement capacity. Data from the U.S. International Trade Commission indicates that imports rose more than 282% from 1989 to 2007.

Do Hybrid cars contain lead batteries?

• The Toyota Prius, Honda Accord Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight, and the Ford Escape Hybrid, all use 42 volt lead battery systems that are much larger than a conventional 12 volt battery. In addition, all Hybrid cars and SUVs on the market have a second nickel-metal hydride or lithium-ion battery.

Are lead emission and exposure standards in the U.S. adequate?

• The Clean Air Act specifies that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must review the national ambient air quality standards every five years, but the air quality standards for lead have remained unchanged for 27 years. During that time the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reduced its blood lead level of concern for children by two-thirds as the scientific understanding of low level effects improved. In August 2004, the Attorney General of Missouri asked the Federal Court to order the EPA Administrator to review the air quality standard for lead, as mandated by Congress. As a result of the court's actions in this case, the EPA is currently reviewing the lead standard and has introduced a standard that will drastically lower the allowable ambient airborne lead level. In the U.S. Occupational standards for airborne lead in the workplace have also not changed since the 1970s, despite a much greater understanding of the health effects of lead on adults exposed at relatively low levels.

Are there substitutes for lead batteries?

• Although there are substitutes for lead batteries, they contain other heavy metals such as nickel, cobalt and lithium, which can be difficult to recycle but can also outlast lead batteries. These alternatives cost considerably more than lead batteries and also pose significant environmental and health impacts if not carefully manufactured and recycled properly.

How large is the lead battery industry?

• Global lead battery production is estimated to be worth more than $17.45 billion per year and is steadily growing[6].

Notes:

1 Jeff Gearhart, Dean Menke, Charles Griffith, Kevin Mills; “Getting the lead out: Impact of and alternatives for automotive lead uses”; Environmental Defense, Ecology Center, Clean Car Campaign; July 2003.

2 World Health Organization, “Lead: Assessing the Environmental Burden of Disease at National and Local Levels”, p. 51, 2003.

3 An estimated 88% of annual primary and secondary lead (mined and recycled metallic lead) production. U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2007

4 U.S. department of Transportation, “National Transportation Statistic 2004”, Bureau of Transportation; Table 1-17, January 2005.

5 U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC); “ITC Trade DataWeb”; http://dataweb.usitc.gov. March 2008.

6 Frost & Sullivan, “World Starting. Light, and Ignition (SLI) Lead Acid Battery Market”, September 7, 2004 and IC Consultants Ltd, “Lead: the facts”, p 49, December 2001.