Brazil Finds Out Its Car Battery Is a Time Bomb

Amid rising concern with the final destination of batteries (both domestic and industrial), the use of products made with asbestos, and the importation of industrial residuals that are used in fertilizers, the National Environmental Council (Conama) met to discuss legal norms for the use, handling and disposal of these items which are all toxic to humans.

As for batteries, a two-pronged approach is underway, says Bertoldo Silva Costa, a sanitation and environmental engineer at Conama.

"First we want to make the battery less dangerous for the user. Then we want to ensure that after it is used it can be disposed of, in landfills, for example, or recycled, without presenting a further danger," he explained.

Costa says the way to do this is by reducing the presence of heavy metals in batteries. He points out that since 1999 Brazil has had norms on batteries (Resolution 279), but those norms have to be updated.

Since the implementation of the 1999 norms the domestic battery has been improved immensely. But the four-kilo automobile battery, made of lead, is not dealt with in the 1999 norms and the result is that one of those batteries will cause more damage to the environment than a truckload of domestic batteries, explains Costa.

Conama intends to begin an educational campaign to make the public aware of the problem.

Agência Brasil

Tags:

You May Also Like

Lula, in Davos, Paints a Brazil Ready to Do Business

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated today, during his address at the ...

From Space Brazil’s First Astronaut Encourages Kids to Become Scientists

Brazil’s first astronaut, Marcos Pontes, participated in a videoconference, Wednesday, April 5, with various ...

Amazon Deforestation Is to Blame for 75% of Brazil’s Air Pollution

Experts and representatives of the federal government indicated the Amazon’s deforestation as the main ...

A Brazilian Ant With a Christian Message for the Whole World

Smilingüido is an ant that lives with his friends in the anthill of the ...

Brazilian Plastic Industry Exports Fall 15%

The plastics industry in Brazil earned US$ 1.1 billion from exports of processed plastic ...

US and Brazil Get Ready for Lula-Bush’s Washington Summit

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his American counterpart George Bush are ...

Consumer Protection in Brazil Is Offered Only in 10% of Cities

A study by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice’s Department of Consumer Protection and Defense ...

Brazil Sees G-20 US$ 1 Trillion Injection as Oxygen to World Economy

The decision by the G-20 to inject US$ 1.1 trillion into the global economy ...

Brazil Says Chagas Disease Is Under Control

The Chagas Disease is under control, in spite of recent cases registered in Santa ...

Brazil Presents Samba de Roda as Mankind’s Heritage

The National Non-material Heritage Program, launched yesterday by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da ...