HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENT | POSSIBLE EFFECTS |
---|---|
SULFURIC ACID | Corrosive, causes severe skin burns, and can cause blindness |
LEAD | Causes nerve and kidney damage, suspected carcinogen |
Automobile, boats, and tractor batteries are wet cell batteries which contain lead and a solution of sulfuric acid. When activated, the electrolyte solution in the battery produces explosive gases which are easily ignited. Manufacturers of batteries containing sulfuric acid must use labels which warn consumers of the dangers from battery acid and accumulated gases. Sulfuric acid is extremely caustic. Fumes are strongly irritating, and contact can cause burning and charring of the skin; it is exceedingly dangerous to eyes. Lead is poisonous in all forms and accumulates in our bodies and in the environment.
Use: Wear protective gloves. Do not get battery acid on you or your clothing. If you do, wash your hands or body immediately and put baking soda on your clothes where the battery acid splashed. Do not attempt to neutralize acids on the skin or when swallowed. Flushing with or drinking sodium bicarbonate creates thermal heat from the acid base reaction, causing further injury. Do not stand by an uncapped battery while the motor is running; it can splash on you. After touching a battery, wash hands thoroughly before touching eyes or mouth. Keep all sources of flames, including cigarettes, away from batteries.
Storage: Store away from children, especially curious children who might want to break open the battery to see what is inside. Keep away from all sources of sparks, including flames. Store under a tarp or in a covered area.
Disposal: Recycle used batteries! Improper disposal of batteries presents an environmental hazard. It is important and easy to dispose of batteries by recycling them and it is usually possible to trade in old batteries where you purchase new ones. To locate the recycler nearest to you, look up "Batteries" in the Yellow Pages of the phone book. Depending upon the market place, you may get a small amount of money for your recycled battery, but the fact that you do not have to pay to dispose of this highly hazardous waste makes it a bargain to recycle batteries.