Lithium batteries come in two types: lithium metal, which are single-use, and lithium-ion, which can be recharged. Both store energy that generates intense heat during a short circuit. A short can occur if metal touches both terminals or if internal seals fail.

Lithium batteries have revolutionized electronics. Tiny cellphones equipped with cameras or music players would not be possible without the wafer-size lithium-ion rechargeable battery that powers them. Sophisticated medical devices depend on long-lived lithium metal batteries. The growing energy stored in the small batteries also creates a hazard. If the batteries short-circuit, they can produce intense heat, and most of the batteries contain flammable chemicals.
A battery fire in a carry-on bag would be more easily detected and controlled by crew, and, given the popularity of laptops and cell phones, banning them in carry-ons would be difficult. Regulators are caught in the middle. But if you think about being on a passenger plane and one of these catches fire — even if the crew can control it, that’s a bad situation with all the smoke.

A plane is bad place for a battery

According to government and industry officials, the world’s insatiable demand for more power is clashing with safety needs on aircraft. “It is a critical safety issue,” said Bernard Loeb, a former chief aviation accident investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). “Any event that involves the potential for fire on an airplane is very serious.” The potential for lithium batteries to ignite was first raised as a safety issue in 1999, when fire broke out in Los Angeles in a load of 120,000 lithium batteries that had just arrived aboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Japan. Northwest employees doused the batteries with a fire hose, but each time they thought they had extinguished the fire, it flared up again.

Lithium batteries have become commonplace and the Regulations regarding their transport now affect a wider audience. Because of this, IATA has developed an information document to assist shipper’s, freight forwarders, ground handling agents, airlines/operators and passengers in complying with those Regulations.

You can download a Guidance document (pdf) on the transport of lithium metal and lithium ion batteries developed by IATA for complying with the 53rd (2012) edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) on classification, exceptions, packaging, passenger provisions and frequently asked questions.

Packing instructions 965-970 from the 53rd Edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations applicable to lithium batteries on passenger and cargo aircraft and CAO are broken down into three (3) sections for easy understandability; general requirements applicable to all battery shipments assigned to that packing instruction, Section I, applicable to the “fully regulated”, Class 9 battery shipments assigned to that packing instruction and Section II, applicable to the “excepted”, battery shipments assigned to that packing instruction.

You can download these documents at Download documents

2012 Guidance Document

ICC Compliance Center offers a variety of solutions to help shippers comply with shipping lithium batteries by air.

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During the holiday season, we bought ourselves a new cell phone. Once back home, we wondered what to do with our old cell phone. We found out that mobile phones and accessories contain a variety of toxic materials including lead, nickel, mercury, manganese, lithium, zinc, arsenic, antimony, beryllium and copper. Most of these metals are highly toxic to humans and the environment. There are several metals and chemicals in cell phones that are very hazardous to health.

Here is a description of the ill effects of each of these metals and chemicals that are present in cell phones – a reason why you should give your old phone for recycling, and not throw it in the garbage bin.

The effects of lead poisoning are well known. If absorbed into the bloodstream in sufficient quantities lead, which is used in the circuit boards of mobile phones, causes serious liver and kidney damage in adults, and neurological damage in children.

Nickel, a substantial quantity of which is present in handset batteries, causes cancer. Similarly, mercury (not mentioned in the table) is another dangerous substance found in batteries, especially in older devices. Even a small amount of mercury can harm humans adversely. Though the use of mercury has been reduced in cell phones to a great extent, it is present in fairly large quantities in older phones.

Magnesium induces neurochemical changes and has been identified as a contributing factor to developing Alzheimer’s. Manganese, as the table shows, is used in making circuit boards and case of mobile phones.

Although Li-ion batteries are free of heavy metals (lithium has a low atomic number), lithium’s high instability can create environmental problems. When exposed to water, which is present in most landfills, the metal can burn, causing underground fires that are difficult to extinguish.

Zinc is good for health in small quantities and is often used in medicines. However, zinc products contain another metal called cadmium. This is because zinc and cadmium are chemically similar and often occur together in nature. Exposure to high levels of cadmium over a long time can lead to kidney failure.

Arsenic compound Gallium Arsenide is used in LEDs. Arsenic is a well known poison. When the concentration of Arsenic in water increases beyond 10 parts per million it becomes dangerous. In fact, Arsenic poisoning is common in our part of the world.

Antimony, used mainly as a fire retardant, is known to be very poisonous, and the effects of antimony poisoning are similar to those of arsenic poisoning.

Beryllium, used for cooling (heat sink), is corrosive to tissue and can cause a chronic life-threatening allergic disease called berylliosis in some people.

Copper fortunately is non toxic and is in-fact necessary for a healthy life. Apart from copper, cell phones also contain small amounts of precious metals like iridium, silver and gold, which make it attractive for recycling companies to be in this business.

How to discard cellphones

Today, most major handset manufacturers such as Samsung, Nokia, Apple and LG run mobile recycling programs. You can simply walk into the store of any of these companies and give your old phone, and you can be sure the phone will be recycled properly. Or ask your municipality for any recycling program they may have in place for mobile phones.

Christmas time is almost upon us again. Many of us like to decorate our homes for the Christmas season with traditional plants and flowers. The poinsettia is always a big favorite; it’s bright red leaves just scream Christmas. We hang mistletoe so we can kiss our beloved. We like to decorate window sills and banisters with holly and ivy. And last, but certainly not least, many of us like to put a large real Christmas tree in the middle of our living rooms.

Poinsettas

There is some controversy, mostly from those who sell flowers, whether or not poinsettia’s are poisonous. Actually, the flower itself is not poisonous but the sap that comes out of the leaves can cause skin and mouth irritation, and vomiting. If a pet or child ingests any of the plant, it can be treated by washing with soap and water.

Mistletoe

The berries of the mistletoe plant are extremely poisonous. It is recommended that you remove the berries if you plan to have the plant around your house. The berries can cause excessive salivating, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive urination, heavy breathing and a fast heart rate.

Holly

Like mistletoe, the berries on the holly plant are poisonous. They are not as poisonous as mistletoe berries and many birds do live on them but they can cause gastric intestinal distress, vomiting and diarrhea in small children and pets. If you think a pet or child has ingested the berries, contact your doctor or vet immediately.

Pine trees

If you bring a real Christmas tree into your home you must be aware of the dangers, to pets especially. It is inevitable that the needles will fall off a pine tree. If your pet ingests the pine needles there is a danger of their internal organs being pierced by the needles. It’s probably safest to buy an artificial tree. They don’t drop needles, they don’t dry out, and they are not a fire hazard.

Don’t be afraid of decorating your homes with Christmas plants and flowers. Just taking a few precautions can ensure that you and your family and your pets will have a wonderful holiday season.

As a Christmas enthusiast, I enjoy stringing Christmas lights around trees and small plants to give my home a warm glow for the holiday season. These lights mesmerize children and adults alike in a stunning display of twinkling color. But we forget the risks that Christmas tree lights pose when used inside the home. We can steer clear of such hazards by taking preventive measures against potentially threatening situations.

Real Tree Fire Hazards

Christmas tree lights have a reputation of sparking electrical fires on Christmas trees. According to our local fire administration, a short in one light of the electrical light string often ignites a fire on the family tree. However, fires are less likely to break out on well-watered Christmas trees than dry ones. Therefore, Christmas tree owners have to keep their trees well-watered to reduce the chance of an electrical light fire.

Choking Hazards

Children seldom consider the consequences of getting tangled up in Christmas tree lights. Toddlers and small children may get the electrical light cords wrapped around their necks and suffocate if not placed under adult supervision. Parents can prevent this occurrence by making sure their small children are never left alone in a room with boxed or partially strung Christmas tree lights, as children might use them as toys or attempt to string the lights themselves.

Pre-lit Tree Risks

Christmas tree lights don’t need loose cords to pose a threat. In the United States the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled some pre-lit trees. According to the commission, some buyers experienced electrical shocks and fires resulting from exposed wiring, wires that were too short and electrical cords that were not plugged in all the way. While not purchasing pre-lit trees is the only way to prevent such issues, individuals can take some precautions by placing the tree in a well-ventilated area where it is not likely to quickly spread fire to furniture, pillows or gifts within close proximity.

Fake Tree Dangers

Even though real trees and pre-lit trees seem to pose the most threats in the home, artificial trees are equally as vulnerable to Christmas tree light risks. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, fake trees are likely to catch fire when decorators overload electrical sockets with Christmas tree lights. Did you know that even flame retardant or flame resistant artificial trees can eventually succumb to a fire, as their resistance wears off when completely consumed in flames? By following the instructions on Christmas tree light packaging, owners can determine how many light strings they can safely connect before posing a threat to their homes.

(NC)—If you have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed on every storey of your home and outside bedrooms, and they each have fresh batteries, give yourself a pat on the back.
But if any of those smoke alarms is more than 10 years old, or any CO alarm is more than 7 years old, your family safety efforts are being wasted. Because just like other appliances and devices in your home, smoke and CO alarms wear out and must be replaced.

While newer models have a built-in “end of life” warning – a chirp that tells you to replace it – older ones do not. So how can you remember to replace alarms, and, when?
Follow the ’10/7 Replacement Rule’. It goes like this: replace any smoke alarm after 10 years, and any CO alarm after 7 years. It doesn’t matter whether your alarms are battery operated or hardwired into your home’s electrical system. The 10/7 Replacement Rule still applies.

Did you know?

All smoke alarms are not the same.

Photoelectric smoke alarms are a good choice near kitchens. Their sensors are best at detecting slow smoldering fires so you will have fewer false alarms when you burn the toast.
Ionization smoke alarms are a good choice for general living areas, as they are best at detecting fast-flaming fires.

Fire departments say that having both types of alarms installed in your home provides the best protection. More information on the different types of smoke alarms and other fire safety tips can be found online at www.safeathome.ca

Reference: News Canada.