Environmental Issues on the Informal Used Lead-Acid Batteries (ULABs) Recycling
STEP 1: Familiarize yourself with the global environmental issue of Recycling used lead-acid (automobile) batteries (ULABs)
STEP 2: Assemble a team of 3 Professionals
STEP 3: Present the problem to Professionals and solicit interventions based on their discipline
STEP 4: Prepare "Interprofessional Team Report"
Select 3 professions outside public health and medicine (see suggestions below). For each profession, present ideas on various interventions in addressing the problem of the informal recycling of used lead-acid (automotive) batteries. You are encouraged to reach out to people in these professions and solicit their ideas. You will, of course, have to describe the situation at Agbogbloshie so please learn about this infamous site first. You are permitted to work in groups but the report must come from each individual.
The Issue and Problem: Informal ULAB Recycling
Lead-acid automotive and storage batteries are a very important commodity with an ever expanding global market. Due to their simple construction and components; namely lead, acid and plastic, they approach a global recycling rate of almost 99%. As a result, many informal ULAB recyclers collect batteries, break them apart, melt/smelt the lead and resell it (see references below). This activity could be a family buying and processing a few batteries a week to provide a source of income or larger backyard smelters which process dozens or hundreds of automotive batteries. Unfortunately, the informal recycling process is dirty and contaminates families and communities. The published scholarship on this subject is quite extensive (see YouTubes, websites and listed above).
The Assignment:
Interview a team of non-health professionals and explore options to reduce lead poisoning from informal battery recycling activities. But keep in mind that ULAB activities worldwide provide needed sustenance for millions of struggling families in low and middle income countries. So simply banning informal ULABs may not be the best option. Each discipline will likely approach this problem from a different angle and your assignment is to describe their approaches. Lastly, please advise your "professionals" that banning LAB is not an option.
SUBMISSIONS:
The report should integrate the interventions for into a single coherent approach (if possible) and present the challenges in satisfying each intervention. It must also include a section on the lesson's learned in working on interprofessional (interdisciplinary) teams. The report could be written (1,500 words) or a narrated PPT, or YT video (<8 minutes). It must be well sectioned and referenced. The flow should be as follows:
1. Presentation of health risks associated problems
2. Professional #1 approach
3. Professional #2 approach
4. Professional #3 approach
5. Assessment of the various approaches and lesson learned
Possible Professions to choose from: (you may choose family, friends, colleagues)
- Advocacy Group, Banker, Ecologist / Biologist, Elected official / Mayor / Council Member
- Engineer (civil or mechanical), International development officer, Labor Minister
- Law Enforcement Officer, Politician, Teacher, Urban planner
Resources to learn about ULABs:
YouTube Videos:
https://youtu(dot)be/bGWmNoYTYIE (Pure Earth)
https://youtu(dot)be/czB2AVJIy70 (Caravanos 2012)
READINGS:
UNICEF/Pure Earth, The Toxic Truth: Children's Exposure to Lead Pollution Undermines a Generation of Future Potential, August 2020, https://www(dot)pureearth(dot)org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Toxic-Truth-Childrens-Exposure-To-Lead-Pollution-UNICEF-Pure-Earth-2020.pdf
Haefliger, P., Mathieu-Nolf, M., Lociciro, S., Ndiaye, C., Coly, M., Diouf, A., Faye, A.L., Sow, A., Tempowski, J., Pronczuk, J. and Junior, A.P.F., 2009. Mass lead intoxication from informal used lead-acid battery recycling in Dakar, Senegal. Environmental Health Perspectives, 117(10), pp.1535-1540.
Tian, X., Gong, Y., Wu, Y., Agyeiwaa, A. and Zuo, T., 2014. Management of used lead acid battery in China: Secondary lead industry progress, policies and problems. Resources, conservation and recycling, 93, pp.75-84
WEBSITES:
Pure Earth - https://www(dot)pureearth(dot)org
UN Env Program - https://www(dot)unenvironment(dot)org/explore-topics/chemicals-waste/what-we-do/emerging-issues/lead-acid-batteries
Interprofessional Team Report
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course Name
Date
Lead-acid batteries are one of the most common types of batteries used in automobiles and the most widely recycled product in the world. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most hazardous materials due to their lead content. The lead from these batteries can leak into the environment and cause serious health risks. These batteries pose a significant environmental issue when not properly recycled. Used lead-acid batteries contain lead, sulfuric acid, and other hazardous materials that can contaminate soil, ground and surface water, and even the air if not recycled properly (Pure Earth/Blacksmith, n.d.).
The recycling of lead-acid batteries is a complex process. It involves breaking down the battery into its essential components: lead, lead oxide, plastic, and sulfuric acid. Lead and lead oxide can be reused in producing new batteries, and the plastic is recycled and used in various products. The sulfuric acid can be neutralized and used for industrial processes. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has put together a report that outlines the global environmental issue of recycling used lead-acid batteries (Lead Acid Batteries, 2019). According to the report, lead-acid batteries are one of the largest sources of lead released into the environment. It also states that lead-acid batteries are responsible for more than 80% of the lead released into the environment.
The informal recycling of used lead acid batteries (ULABs) by community members can have far-reaching environmental consequences. The lead in these batteries can be extremely hazardous if not handled properly. This can lead to lead contamination of the soil, water, and air, which can be dangerous to human health. Lead has a long half-life, meaning it will remain in the environment for a long time (The Toxic Truth: Children’s Exposure to Lead Pollution Undermines a Generation of Future Potential the Toxic Truth: Children’s Exposure to Lead Pollution Undermines a Generation of Future Potential, n.d.). If these batteries are not recycled properly, the lead can be released into the ground, contaminating groundwater and soil. This can lead to many health problems, such as neurological damage, mental impairment, and even death. Informal recycling of ULABs often involves breaking open the batteries and separating the lead from the other components. This is usually done by hand, with no safety equipment or protective gear, which can result in lead exposure and even poisoning. Furthermore, the lead dust and other by-products created in the process of breaking down the batteries can be released into the air, further polluting the environment.
However, despite the challenges of the informal recycling of ULABs, community members are presented with the opportunity to make money; especially because collecting and recycling ULABS does not require background training or formal education. This can provide an important source of income for those who may not have the means to find other types of employment. In light of this, we need to look for solutions to this issue without banning the informal recycling of ULABS. In my quest for solutions, I interviewed three professionals (an urban planner, a biologist and a politician) outside public health and medicine. Below are the questions I posed and their responses.
Interview with an Urban Planner
Q 1: How useful are used lead acid batteries in your field?
A 1: Used lead acid batteries can be very useful in urban planning. Using these batteries, we can store energy to power many different city services, such as streetlights, traffic signals, and emergency services. Additionally, they can store energy generated by renewable sources, such as solar and wind, making them valuable for cities looking to move towards greener energy sources. Furthermore, they are relatively inexpensive to acquire and maintain, making them an attractive option for cities with limited budgets.
Q 2: Give your views on the informal recycling of used lead acid batteries.
A 2: Informal recycling of used lead acid batteries can present several risks to the environment and public health. Lead acid batteries contain toxic substances and heavy metals, which can leach into the environment if not disposed of correctly. Furthermore, informal recycling can also create safety risks since the processes used to break down the batteries can be hazardous. On the other hand, informal recycling can be beneficial in some cases since it can provide employment opportunities in areas where formal recycling is not available. It can also help alleviate some financial costs associated with formal recycling.
Q 3: What would you say is the most effective way for urban planners to help with the recycling of lead-acid batteries?
A 3: The most effective way for urban planners to help with the recycling of lead-acid batteries is to create incentives for people to recycle them properly. This can be done by developing policies encouraging businesses to accept used lead-acid batteries and providing financial incentives for households to recycle these batteries. Urban planners can also work with local waste management companies to create collection and disposal programs tailored to recycle lead-acid batteries.<...