Lithium Ion Batteries May Contribute to Global PFAS Contamination, Study Warns

The battery industry’s increasing use per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in lithium-ion batteries could intensify long-term adverse effects on both environmental and human health, a recent study warns.

PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that have been heavily used across the manufacturing industry since the early 1950’s for their ability to resist heat, grease, oil and water. However, in recent years the synthetic chemicals have been found to persist for decades, and researchers have linked PFAS exposure to a myriad of adverse health effects, including testicular cancer, kidney cancer, ulcerative colitis and other side effects.

While most PFAS-related health concerns arise from water contamination due to the extensive use of these chemicals in AFFF by the military and firefighters, the implications extend far beyond. For decades, during training and emergency response exercises, PFAS chemicals have been released into the environment and local water supplies, particularly around military bases, airports, and firefighter training locations. This has led to dangerously high levels of these chemicals in the drinking water of many communities.

Consequently, manufacturers like 3M Company, DuPont, Chemguard, Inc., and Tyco Fire Products, along with other chemical and fire safety product producers, now face thousands of PFAS water contamination lawsuits that have been filed by local water providers and individuals diagnosed with various types of cancer. Moreover, there are hundreds of firefighter AFFF exposure lawsuits filed, with ongoing litigation revealing even more about the long-term risks associated with the use of these chemicals.

Lithium Ion Battery PFAS Concerns

Prior to lithium ion batteries, the automobile and technology industry predominately used lead-acid and Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) batteries. Over the last decade, as the evolution of batteries has changed, many companies have shifted to lithium ion batteries that are made with PFAS chemicals so the batteries can withstand higher temperatures without breaking down, which can prevent overheating and dangerous thermal runaway events.

However, in a study published in the journal Nature Communications on July 8, researchers suggest that the use of “forever chemicals” in lithium ion batteries could cause further environmental and human health concerns.

Dr. Jennifer Guelfo of Texas Tech University and a team of researchers investigated the environmental impacts of using bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides (bis-FASIs), a class of PFAS chemical in lithium-ion batteries, by collecting soil and surface water samples from 87 different sites, spread across several geographic regions, including the United States and Europe.

In the U.S., they focused on areas near manufacturing facilities in Minnesota, Kentucky, and North Carolina. In Europe, the sampling included sites near production facilities in Antwerp, Belgium, and Salindres, France.

Researchers found the highest levels of bis-FMeSI, a type of bis-FASI, in environmental samples taken from the Cottage Grove, Minnesota area, which was in a relatively close proximity to a 3M manufacturing plant. These elevated concentrations of PFAS linked to lithium ion battery production were notably present in surface water and soil, illustrating a significant local environmental impact.

“The highest PFAS concentrations were generally observed in water collected from a ditch southwest of the 3M facility in Antwerp, located within an area designated by the Flemish government as a “red zone” for PFAS impacts from 3M”, the study found.

Moreover, significant concentrations of lithium ion battery-related PFAS were detected in the vicinity of Arkema production facilities in Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky, where samples of water and sediment showed substantial PFAS contamination, directly linked to industrial discharges. In Europe, enhanced levels of these contaminants were identified near chemical manufacturing hubs in Antwerp, Belgium, and Salindres, France, suggesting that local industrial battery production activities are a primary source of environmental pollution, the researchers determined.

“Without changes in manufacturing, use, disposal, and treatment practices, concentrations of bis-FASIs in soil, groundwater, surface water, wastewater residuals, and landfill leachate are likely to increase, along with associated human and environmental exposure,” Guelfo’s team concluded. “It is important to emphasize that bis-FASIs are not currently regulated anywhere in the world, so there is a lack of regulatory drivers to catalyze changes needed to mitigate these exposures.”

Lithium-Ion Battery Problems

The findings are just the latest problem linked to the growing use of lithium ion batteries in recent years, which have also been associated with reports of fires and overheating due to a problem known as thermal runaway. These events occur when a defective battery experiences a chain reaction leading to a rapid increase in temperature, potentially leading to overheating, fires, explosions, injuries, and deaths.

Their compact size and long battery life have led to widespread use in micromobility devices like hoverboards, electric scooters and e-bikes. In 2022, the CPSC received 200 reports of lithium-ion battery fires linked to e-mobility devices.

Most of the reports originated from densely populated areas like New York City, where e-scooters and other e-mobility devices are an increasingly popular alternative to passenger motor vehicles. E-scooters and similar devices are also frequently marketed to children, which has led to product recalls due to fire risks.

The CPSC issued a warning letter in December 2022 to manufactures and importers of e-scooters, self-balancing scooters, e-bicycles and e-unicycles to make sure the devices complied with UL safety standards.