By : R. LOW
THIS REPORT will focus on articles, studies and research reports based on the risks, dangers and harmful effects of using and being surrounded by Lead Acid Batteries, and relating these report findings on how this has affected the quality and way of life for many Malaysians within Sabah.
Lead
Lead (Or Plumbum; Atomic sign Pb) is a naturally occurring heavy metal rarely found in pure form, more usually found in a lead compound of other combined elements. The heavy metal had found popular use in industrial grade products like piping, weights, coal burning, shots & bullets, paint, and most commonly in lead batteries. This is because lead is a highly resistant metal to corrosion, whilst retaining a relative ease to being moulded and shaped.
Unfortunately, human activity in the past 50 years has seen a rapid concentrated deposit of lead in areas of disposal, which has had an adverse effect on the local environment and it’s people. Lead has the ability to stick relatively well to soil, so it remains for long periods on the surface level, making decay of the metal extremely slow.
Sources of lead contamination have ranged from mainly human based contributors. Common examples such as flakes of lead paint dust used on old building structures, motor vehicle pollution in the form of exhaust fumes and improper disposal of lead based products such as batteries and pipes, have all contributed to elevated concentrated amounts of lead in the surrounding areas.
Lead Poisoning
The effects of lead poisoning have been revealed to be relatively varied, with all related effects ultimately leaving victims deformed and in pain, quite possibly for life. When lead is absorbed into the body, many vital organs in the human body react devastatingly to the heavy metal, in which case problems that may arise for adult victims vary from headaches, abdominal pain, damage to bone and joint structure, memory loss, kidney failure, reproductive problems, weakness and general pain.
Another effect is the disruption to the development of the nervous system, making young children in particular incredibly vulnerable to long-term, if not, life-time damage to their bodies from lead poisoning. Children share similar problems as adult victims, with the exception that children most commonly exhibit and may also suffer from permanent learning disabilities, motor problems and behavioural problems.
It should also be noted that victims of lead poisoning normally do not exhibit external or obvious signs of poisoning, and the only method to test for lead poisoning is through a blood lead assessment to show for signs of high lead levels contained within the victim’s blood.
GUMS……A victim with a build-up of lead around his gums. An indication of lead poisoning.
What is even more worrying is that, there has been no evidence to suggest that lead poisoning only occurs due to large levels of exposure. Children, for example, have been tested to have lead poisoning despite having relatively lower blood lead levels in their bodies in comparison to adult victims.
Lead Acid Battery Hazards
Lead Poisoning
The relation of lead poisoning and lead acid batteries is relatively simple – Exposure to the lead plates in lead acid batteries (One of the main components to the battery) has the potential to create a build-up of toxic lead in a victim’s body to the point of possible permanent damage to internal organs, absorption of lead into bone, contamination of blood and many other neurological disruptions, as well as many various other health hazards associated with the chemical makeup housed inside a Lead Acid battery.
Methods of transmission, in relation to lead acid batteries being the main cause, generally stem from improper disposal methods (Lack of recycling facilities, with the harmful chemicals meeting sources of water or being surrounded by batteries that have released lead dust particles during over-charging.
Absorption through contact with skin is possible, as well as oral ingestion from polluted water and improper filtration methods for consumption. It is also possible to absorb lead through eating polluted foods (Fish living in polluted water, ground vegetation absorbing lead bonded to soil particles etc…).
Chemical Gas & Gassing
What is even more concerning is that Lead Acid Batteries are known to produce large amounts of oxygen and hydrogen gas when over-charged (An estimated 25% Oxygen, 75% Hydrogen).
Hydrogen gas is an extremely flammable gas that burns quickly. Normally, gas build-up is a normal occurrence in charging lead acid batteries, however over-charging a lead acid battery (Even slightly) can cause batteries to cause ‘gassing’ which is the release of hydrogen and/or oxygen from the battery case itself.
This causes an immense danger to users who may unknowingly bring a spark or intense heat source close to the battery, causing a potential explosion which would splash sulphuric acid and dissolved lead fragments all over nearby victims. The results could leave victims terribly maimed.
Another danger of Lead Acid Batteries is the sulphuric acid that is stored inside all battery containers. When a battery is over-charged, it is possible that the battery would begin to boil, causing the sulphuric acid to ‘mist’ and seep out of a battery housing.
This is particularly dangerous as sulphuric acid has the ability to cause close to 3rd degree burns on victims. Signs of sulphuric acid mist are irritation to lungs, exposed skin, as well as the onset of pulmonary oedema, which is when there is a build-up of fluid inside the lungs. This can ultimately cause respiratory failure in victims, leading to death.
Expanding on the concept of gassing, it should be noted that many lead acid battery producers warrant strong warnings and labels regarding ventilation. Ventilation denotes the amount of open air space that can be provided in order avoid the potential build-up of gas and chemicals in a storage room. It is the priority for ventilation concerns that all batteries are ventilated to outside air. The recommended area of space required for open & flooded lead acid batteries, according to one lead acid producer, is compromised of the following formula:
Q = V . q . s . n . I in litres/hours (1/h)
V = Dilution factor = 100 % / 3.8% > 26
The dilution factor indicates the quantitative ratio of air to hydrogen at which the explosive limit is not exceeded.
q= Hydrogen volume in litres generated by each battery cell, Ampere and hour.
In the case of open lead-acid batteries this is 0.42 l .
s = Safety factor = 5 for land-based equipment and land vehicles.
n = Number of battery cells
I = Current in A, which causes generation of the hydrogen
According to this formula, if a battery has insufficient ventilation in the installation room, it is stressed by battery producers that proper ventilation, in the form of forced ventilation or powered ventilation, is provided for batteries in order to accommodate for gassing issues whilst charging.
Lead in the Environment
Section 31 in the Environmental Quality Act 1974 states that the government has the power to…
(a) install and operate any control equipment or any additional control equipment;
(b) repair, alter or replace any equipment or control equipment;
(c) erect or increase the height of any chimney;
(d) measure, take a sample of, analyse, record and report any environmentally hazardous substances, pollutants, wastes, effluents or emissions containing pollutants;
(e) conduct a study on any environmental risk;
(f) install, maintain and operate monitoring programme at the expense of the owner or occupier; or
(g) adopt any measure to reduce, mitigate, disperse, remove, eliminate, destroy or dispose of pollution.
In relation to when “environmentally hazardous substances, pollutants or wastes are being or likely to be emitted, discharged, or deposited…”
The issue in Sabah has recently been risen, as reports of classrooms in rural Sabah have been shown to include Lead Acid Batteries, charging in their housing racks along with controllers, next to young school children and teachers.
CHARGING….A school class room with lead acid batteries charging in the room, Kudat, Sabah.
SOLAR….A staff room with lead acid batteries and solar controllers, SK Kg. Sumambu, Tenom, Sabah.
FIRE…..Debris from a recent fire involving lead acid batteries that were outside a school, SK Kg. Sumambu, Tenom, Sabah.
Risk Assessment & Hazard Screening
The need to test for lead is relatively simple. The process is normally performed on old houses that may have used lead-paint or contained high levels of lead in the area (Dumping sites for example) with the issue of lead acid batteries, it could be assumed that similar procedures would occur, since lead dust particles do eventually get spread into the air over time.
It has been assessed that proper testing for lead requires a certified risk assessment officer, who can collect samples and properly test for lead content on a property, but in order to mitigate potential lead build up, it is recommended that the following places are checked thoroughly for dust particle build up:
(Attached diagram)
Dust samples can be easily collected using wipe samples (wet wipes), wiped in 7 directions to best collect lead samples in a 1 foot area. Another method requires specialised vacuums that can collect the samples uncontaminated.
Soil samples usually require gathering bare soil with no grass or covering structures (Statues & plants for example).
Water samples require sampling the water and testing for base elements and lead content per litre. Currently, the Department of Environments in Malaysia detects only 0.01 mg/L of ground water. In context, a person using a regulated shower head, would roughly use 3.8 litres of per minute in a shower (With older shower heads or piping systems using potentially more water).
Assuming a person takes a 10 minute shower, it is roughly 38 litres of water used per shower meaning an accumulation of 0.38 mg per shower. Spreading that over days and years provides for a large amount of lead that already comes in contact with our exposed bodies. A polluted water source therefore could provide a larger amount of lead exposure, increasing risks to potential victims of lead poisoning.
Blood Testing
Testing for lead in blood & urine are the two most common ways to assess if a person is suffering from lead poisoning. It has been recommended from many health organisations that testing for lead, for those living in potential lead hazard areas, start testing as soon as medically fit too and as early as the age of 1.
Urine testing, unlike blood tests, collection is deemed easier, as it allows for people who are medically incapable of taking blood tests to opt for instead the urine based testing. Transportation of the urine samples however, requires that all subjects be kept away from any lead sources in order to mitigate contamination. More recently however, it has been seen that testing for lead in urine has dropped, as the accuracy of results in testing lead in urine may differ from testing for lead in blood.
On the subject of blood testing, a concerning level of lead in blood for Children starts at roughly 10 µg (Micrograms) per dL (decilitre), and elevated amounts for longer periods of times require through household assessment to reduce further absorption for victims.
In Adults, because there have been no measurable amounts to determine danger levels in Adults, it has been desired that a 25 µg/dL or less is acceptable (According to the Adult’s Blood Lead Surveillance Program).
Due to the unpredictable nature of lead poisoning, results of a blood test may not always be accurate due to the fact that lead can be absorbed into the bone and teeth. General guidelines in reading result findings may differ in case to case of victims of the same household who may be exposed to lead.
Determining factors are age & health of the person, as well as the amount of lead they are exposed too and the amount of time that they have been exposed in terms of elevated lead levels.
Also, it should be noted that women also have the potential to have lead bonding to the ovum, meaning that future children will actually be born with lead poisoning. Even more concerning, it is possible that women who have high lead content in the ovum will actually pass this trait down to their potential daughter, and that daughter will also be born with high lead content in the ovum, passing it on to the next daughter, meaning 3 generations of women (Women, Mother, Grandmother) will be affected by lead poisoning. It is recommended women steer clear of lead hazard products entirely and maintain blood lead content below 10 µg/dL.
It is imperative then that if a student in school is diagnosed with lead poisoning, it is vital that other students be tested in order to mitigate damage to others in the vicinity and to properly assess an area for lead based hazards.
Solution and Conclusion
A solution to the problem, as recommended from the World Health Organisation (WHO), have suggested in a 2010 report, that solutions to treated lead poisoning, mainly focus on most importantly, removing all lead risks from the environment, meaning proper disposal of batteries, following safe and proper lead acid battery installation protocols and policies, proper property maintenance, and ultimately, removing the child away from the exposure zone.
The second solution as recommended from the World Health Organisation (WHO), has suggested Chelation Therapy, as it has proven to reduce the effects of lead poisoning, however, it should be noted the FDA, Food and Drug Administration (United States of America) do not approve of
over-the-counter (OTC) Chelation related products due to untested treatments, causing potentially adverse effects on consumers (Dehydration, kidney failure, improper medical supervision and death). WHO have stressed the importance of seeking medical advice from a doctor before approaching chelation related treatments.
Finding a recycling solution for the batteries and educating the public on the dangers of simply dumping the batteries away does not solve the issue of lead poisoning. If there is still a need for using lead acid batteries, then for the safety of those using them, it should be stressed that proper enforcement of installation policies be exercised from the appropriate government bodies and authorities in order to steer away any potential threats that may stem from the usage of lead acid batteries and general lead related products.
FRUSTRATIONS…..Students at SK Kg. Sumambu demonstrating their frustrations at Lead Acid batteries being used in their classrooms. SK Kg. Sumambu, Tenom, Sabah.
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