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What harmful materials are used to make electric cars?
I’ve been wondering about EV batteries and how even household batteries have harmful chemicals that could leak into the water systems if not disposed of correctly. What harmful materials are used to make electric cars?
Marlee John · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
We hear your concern. There are actually a few materials like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements that pose a threat to the environment and to humans, especially in the mining process.
Before even considering the end-of-life cycle and the environmental impact of not having a secure recycling method for lithium-ion batteries, the hazards begin at the mining stage. Cobalt mining is the most notorious for its human rights issues, as well as the environmental risk of leaching into surrounding regions.
A
New York Times
article reports that almost three-quarters of the world’s cobalt is mined in unregulated mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where many children and adult workers mine with hand tools. Rare earth deposits in China have the potential for producing radioactive water and dust particles that can affect surrounding communities. While electric cars are ostensibly better for the environment, the mining and disposal practices pose a great danger to the environment, but most importantly human health, safety, and rights.
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