Environmental and health issues
Research has been conducted and information found about the batteries that use cathodes with nickel, cobalt, and solvent-based electrode have had high risks on health and environment (Kaiser, 2013). The risks that occur come due to the production, processing, and the use of cobalt and nickel metal compounds (Kaiser, 2013). The impacts towards the environment include resource reduction, global warming, and ecological toxic spending (Kaiser, 2013). Furthermore, the health impacts caused by these batteries are having poor respiratory, pulmonary, and neurological effects (Kaiser, 2013). This research also found that the electricity grids which charge lithium-ions add to global warming and other environmental and health impacts (Kaiser, 2013). The expired Lithium-ion batteries are way to difficult to dispose of, due to the toxic content (Kaiser, 2013). Furthermore, after these batteries have lost their power and life, it is very difficult to recover all the lithium within the materials used to make them in the first place (Kaiser, 2013).