Old Batteries, Cell Phones Pose Risk

[george]

Old batteries, cell phones pose risk

BANGKOK: -- Improper disposal of spent batteries and unwanted cell phones poses a health hazard leading to toxic substances getting into the food chain, health authorities warn.

These wastes contain two highly toxic substances, cadmium and lithium, which if buried in the ground will pollute underground water, the director of the Bureau of Non-Communicable Diseases, Kamjad Ramakul, said yesterday.

Once in the water supply, the chemicals get into the food chain, contaminating plants and fish in the area.

``People eating cadmium-contaminated food can subsequently suffer from itai-itai disease, which leads to kidney malfunction or even kidney failure.

`` It can also cause bone disease, `` Dr Kamjad said. Cancer was also a risk. The increasing amount of cell-phone waste could become a serious threat to public health as they were often disposed of improperly. Many people simply threw them into the nearest garbage bin.

``We may not see the harm from these wastes right now, but we will see it in the future,'' said Dr Kamjad.

Besides the hazards of the battery waste, cell phones also contain lead and mercury.

If burnt, the mercury will evaporate into the air and get into the ground and water with the falling rain.

The physical and mental development of children who eat lead-contaminated food will be slow.

Children who absorb a lot of mercury could also develop Minamata disease that causes physical weakness, loss of body balance, lower intelligence and kidney problems. Pregnant women are likely to have an abnormal foetus.

Like itai-itai disease, Minamata disease was first diagnosed in Japan.

There are currently an estimated 20 million mobile phones in Thailand, with 40 million batteries.

``These cell phone wastes are thrown away every day,'' Dr Kamjad said.

``If this is allowed to continue for another 10 years, the problem could become unsolvable.''

He urged people to return unwanted cell phones and batteries to mobile phone shops, which would then pass this waste on to the manufacturing firms for safe disposal.

--The Post 2005-07-04