You are using an outdated browser. For a faster, safer browsing experience, upgrade for free today.

Lithium as a risk factor for human health and modern environmental pollution sources (literature review)

Lithium as a risk factor for human health and modern environmental pollution sources (literature review)

ISSN 2223-6775 Ukrainian journal of occupational health Vol.18, No 3, 2022


https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2022.03.253

Lithium as a risk factor for human health and modern environmental pollution sources (literature review)

Andrusyshyna I.M., Barykin М.А.
State Institution «Kundiiev Institute of Occupational Health of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine», Kyiv


 Full article (PDF), ENG

Introduction. There are no official documents in Ukraine that would regulate handling of lithium power sources. Two known ones, namely the Summary and the Act No. 1287 are merely declaratory and do not influence the processes of lithium power sources import and further recycling. In other words, exhausted lithium cells are thrown away along with waste that has no appropriate assigned regulations.

The aim of the study.The creation of an analytical review of the current state of environmental lithium pollution and to describe hazards for human health in the context of industrial and environmental exposure to the metal.

Materials and Methods. The study is based upon the analysis of domestic and foreign publications concerning the current state of environmental lithium pollution, the analysis of lithium content in environmental objects, the toxicity of the metal, the impact of industrial exposure, the regulatory and legal acts, guiding documents of international organizations and those that are established in Ukraine.

Results and Discussion. There are a variety of main industrial uses for lithium ores. Currently, one of the main factors for lithium pollution of the environment is the waste from electronic products and devices. Lithium compounds do not have the ability to biologically concentrate in food chains due to their ionic nature. Lithium can be found in different objects of the environment and the general population can be exposed to lithium via atmospheric air, ingestion of food and drinking water. Industrial exposure to the element is possible via skin contact or breathing at the workplace during disposal, manufacturing or recycling of lithium products. Although there is few data on industrial exposure, there are known effects of skin hyperemia and tearing following of the skin due to breathing air polluted with lithium. Lithium exposure is known to heighten the risk of lowering the functionality activity of kidneys, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism and body weight increase. European Union has guidelines of 22nd December, 1998 and of 24th November, 2003 which restricts the use and disposal of lithium products. There are no relevant regulatory documents in Ukraine, according to which the spent electronic waste would be subject to appropriate control.

Conclusions. The conducted analytical studies give way for evaluation of modern ways to utilize lithium compounds. In particular, they show that there are no regulations governing the use and disposal of lithium products in Ukraine. Manufacturers of lithium energy sources, taking care of their employees, must agree with the requirements of public and government organizations, must develop and comply with safety standards for toxic components of lithium energy sources. At the same time, the growth in the use of electronic technology in Ukraine has such a pace that the population should be informed about the potential danger of active environmental pollution, a threat to human health.

Keywords: lithium, toxicity, permissible amounts in environmental objects and biological media, sources of pollution, regulation.

References

  1. Kuzminsky, E.V. and others. (2020), Unconventional electrochemicalen ergyconversion systems, Akademperiodika, Kyiv,182 p.
  2. Lviv, A.L. (2001), "Lithium chemical current sources", Soroseducational magazine, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 45-51.
  3. Poviakel, L.I. etc. (2015), "Heavy metals as a risk factor orhuman health and the environment in the managemen to of waste electrical and electronic equipment (literature review)". Poviakel LI. Modern problem soft oxicology, food and chemical safety, No.1-2, P.41-49.
  4. Sheleshko, E.I., Isayev, S.D. (2004), "Lilith current sources as environmental pollutants", pp.1-5 available at: http://ekmair.ukma.edu.ua/bitstream/handle/123456789/8970/Sheleshko_Litiyevi_dzherela_strumu.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=
  5. Shestopalov, V.M., Negoda, G.M., Naboka, M.V., Ovchinnikova, N.B. (2002), "Problems of classification of mineral waters of Ukraine and prospects of revealing their diversity", Problems of mineral waters, pp. 13-32.
  6. Kavanagh, L. et al. (2018), "Global lithium sources-industrial use and future in the electric vehicleindustry: a review", Resources, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 57, https://doi.org/10.3390/resources7030057
  7. Lindsey, B. D. et al. (2021), "Lithium in groundwater used for drinking-water supply in the United States", Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 767, pp.144691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144691
  8. Flexer, V., Baspineiro, C. F., Galli, C. (2018), "I Lithium recovery from brines: A vital raw material for green energies with a potential environmental impact in its mining and processing", Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 639, pp. 1188-1204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.223
  9. Sobolev, O. I. etal. (2019), "Lithium in the natural environment and its migration in the trophicchain", Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp.195-203.
  10. Kaunda, R. B. (2020), "Potential environmental impacts of lithium mining", Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, Vol. 38, No. 3. pp. 237-244, https://doi.org/10.1080/02646811.2020.1754596
  11. Karsidag, N. Cinar, S. (2011), "Sahin From Lithium Intoxication to Lung Cancer: A Woman's Diagnostic Journey", Prim Care Companion CNS Disord, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 10l0-1048 https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.10l01048gre
  12. Mc Knight, R.F., Adida, M., Budge, K. et al. (2012), "Lithium toxicity profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis", Lancet, No. 379, pp. 721, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61516-X
  13. Hamid, O. A., Ibrahim, E. M., Hussie, M.S., Khateeb, Sh. A. (2020), "The molecular mechanisms of lithium-induced cardiotoxicity in male rats and its amelioration by N-acetyl cysteine", Human and Experimental Toxicology, https://doi.org/10.1177/0960327119897759
  14. Szklarska, D., Rzymski, P. "Is Lithium a Micronutrients From Biological Activity and Epidemiological Observation to Food Fortification", Biological Trace Element Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1455-2
  15. Aral, H., Vecchio-Sadus, A. (2008), "Toxicity of lithium to humans and the environment-A literature review", Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, No. 70 pp. 349- 356, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2008.02.026
  16. Harari, F., Åkesson, A., Casimiro, E., Lu, Yi., Vahter, M. (2016), "Exposure to lithium through drinking water and calcium homeostasis during pregnancy: A longitudinall study", Environmental Research, No. 147. pp.1-7, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2016.01.031
  17. Mrozik W. et al. (2021) "Environmental impacts, pollution sources and pathways of spent lithium-ion batteries" Energy & Environmental Science, V. 14. No 12. pp. 6099-6121, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EE00691F
  18. US EPA [United States Environmental Protection Agency] (2008) "Provisional Peer Reviewed Toxicity Values for Lithium (CASRN 7439-93-2)". [PDF] Superfund Health Risk Technical Support Center National Center for Environmental Assessment Office of Research and Development U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Cincinnaty. 31 p.
  19. Ramoju S., Andersen M., Poddalgoda D., Nong A., Karyakinaa N., Shilnikova N., Krishnana K., Krewskia D. (2020) "Derivation of whole blood biomonitoring equivalents for lithium for the interpretation of biomonitoring data" Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. 111. 104581, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104581
  20. U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries (2020), "Lithium", available at: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2020/mcs2020-lithium.pdf