The Danger of Used Batteries

What do you do with used batteries? Almost all would answer, throw it in the trash. Used batteries is a very dangerous waste which actually should not be carelessly discarded.
All types of batteries used as a remote batteries, toys, watches, cell phones, digital cameras and batteries that can be charged (rechargeable) B3 waste (hazardous and toxic materials).
When carelessly discarded or recycled, then the content of heavy metals and other hazardous substances in batteries can contaminate water and soil, which in turn harm the human body.
Environmental expert Dr R Budi Haryanto claimed reasonable if many people who do not know how to dispose of used batteries safely. Because it is so far nor have any socialization how to treat other types of waste.
According to him, it is very difficult to make people aware of how to dispose of hazardous waste if the government did not provide examples.
"Almost all people are not aware because they do not know the dangers, so dispose of used batteries in just like that," says Dr R Budi Haryanto as Chairman of the Department of Environmental Health FKM UI detikHealth when contacted on Thursday (17/03/2011).
Dr. Budi said one of the key is to socialize on this issue to the people that used batteries are dangerous, so the handling is more comprehensive. If not socialized then the public will not know and do not manage the waste properly.
Why used batteries should not be carelessly discarded?
Batteries contain a variety of heavy metals such as mercury, manganese, lead, nickel, lithium and cadmium.
If the battery is carelessly discarded the heavy metals contained in them would pollute groundwater and endanger health of inhabitants.
Dr. Budi revealed that heavy metal contaminated water is used by society can cause chronic diseases that will cause interference in the central nervous system, kidneys, reproductive system and even cancer.
"The effect is long term. And usually the new society will be more concerned if the effect appears in the near term," said a lecturer who was born in Malang FKM 51 years ago.
How to manage waste used batteries?
Waste batteries should be used exclusively and is managed separately from the rest of the garbage.
Existing technology is going to B3 waste dumped in the soil that already contains other chemicals to be neutralized and destroyed so as not to pollute the environment.
"To overcome this B3 waste everyone should be aware in advance, either from the public, waste management and also the government because of this complex problem. Usually, only people who really knew who did this," he said.
What are the dangers of used batteries?
Waste batteries not only causes pollution but also endanger the natural resources because they contain heavy metals and corrosive electrolyte which is the source of battery power, such as lead, mercury, nickel, cadmium, lithium, silver, zinc and manganese
In the action of microorganisms, inorganic mercury can be transformed into methylmercury, fish congregate in the body which is then consumed by humans. Methylmercury may enter brain cells and have serious consequences such as damage to the nervous system that can make people go crazy or even cause death.
While cadmium batteries can contaminate soil and water, which eventually enter the human body causing damage to liver and kidney, can also lead to soft bones or severe bone defects.
In addition, cadmium can cause chronic poisoning and be a factor causing emphysema (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that involves damage to the air sacs in the lungs), osteomalacia (bone softening), anemia (anemia), also making paralysis in the human body.
Excretion of lead is also the most difficult in the human body and can disrupt the function of kidneys and reproductive function.
If the battery waste mixed with other solid waste, from time to time malicious content in it can contaminate water and soil, which then threatened the lives of fish, plants, environmental destruction and indirectly threaten human health.
Why waste hard to familiarize citizens with the right battery?
According to Dr. Budi hard accustom people to safely dispose of waste batteries because it requires great effort. There should be a special facility that houses and people who do it.
For example, if collected by RT, then who will send to its B3 waste processing center. This condition is related to how far away and how much it cost.
Yet Dr. Budi said there are several things you can do the community to reduce the adverse effects of sewage pollution of used batteries, namely:

1. Communities must be socialized in advance about the dangers of B3 waste for health
2. Begin to separate hazardous waste such as used batteries at home by putting it in a special plastic and other debris separated by
3. Collect all hazardous waste materials in certain places, such as RW in each one there is one special place to accommodate the temporary hazardous waste
4. When the manager came to pick up litter they should also have awareness not to mix hazardous waste with other waste
5. After that the B3 waste will be sent to the management of B3 waste already meet the standards.

Because it is the socialization of the danger of B3 waste is very important to sensitize the public to dispose of used batteries should not arbitrarily so as not to pollute the environment that could have a negative impact on health.