Assessing the environmental impact and risks associated with uncontrolled disposal of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries on soil
The growing use of electric vehicles (EVs) has led to a sharp increase in battery waste, particularly from end-of-life (EOL) lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). A significant portion of this waste is not properly recycled but instead ends up being incinerated, landfilled, or processed through informal cha...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | MethodsX |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016125004200 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849226953777741824 |
|---|---|
| author | Preeti Mishra Sayali Apte Vaishnavi Dhok |
| author_facet | Preeti Mishra Sayali Apte Vaishnavi Dhok |
| author_sort | Preeti Mishra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The growing use of electric vehicles (EVs) has led to a sharp increase in battery waste, particularly from end-of-life (EOL) lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). A significant portion of this waste is not properly recycled but instead ends up being incinerated, landfilled, or processed through informal channels. Such practices contribute to environmental degradation by releasing potentially toxic elements into the air, soil, and water. This study presents a method for quantifying ecological risks from the leaching of these elements. The risk assessment considers different scenarios involving weather conditions, soil types, and groundwater levels, and presents outcomes through a risk matrix. A detailed cause-consequence analysis and quantitative risk evaluation are conducted. Laboratory testing on soil samples contaminated with LiB waste, compared against control samples, revealed marked degradation in the soil's index and engineering properties. The findings indicate that improper LiB disposal not only degrades soil quality but also poses serious threats to human health and surrounding ecosystems. Additionally, a scenario-based focused group discussion corroborated these risks. The research underscores the urgent need for effective LiB waste management practices and regulatory oversight to mitigate long-term environmental and health impacts. • Quantified environmental risks of EOL lithium-ion battery waste through scenario-based analysis. • Laboratory testing confirmed soil degradation due to improper LiB disposal. • Highlights the need for regulatory action and improved waste management strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-afc5b4f7cc2b41afb50557e30e86fa8c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2215-0161 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MethodsX |
| spelling | doaj-art-afc5b4f7cc2b41afb50557e30e86fa8c2025-08-24T05:12:49ZengElsevierMethodsX2215-01612025-12-011510357610.1016/j.mex.2025.103576Assessing the environmental impact and risks associated with uncontrolled disposal of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries on soilPreeti Mishra0Sayali Apte1Vaishnavi Dhok2Department of Civil Engineering, Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Lavale Mulshi, Pune, Maharashtra, India 410015Department of Civil Engineering, Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Lavale Mulshi, Pune, Maharashtra, India 410015; Corresponding author.JD College of Engineering & Management, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India 410015The growing use of electric vehicles (EVs) has led to a sharp increase in battery waste, particularly from end-of-life (EOL) lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). A significant portion of this waste is not properly recycled but instead ends up being incinerated, landfilled, or processed through informal channels. Such practices contribute to environmental degradation by releasing potentially toxic elements into the air, soil, and water. This study presents a method for quantifying ecological risks from the leaching of these elements. The risk assessment considers different scenarios involving weather conditions, soil types, and groundwater levels, and presents outcomes through a risk matrix. A detailed cause-consequence analysis and quantitative risk evaluation are conducted. Laboratory testing on soil samples contaminated with LiB waste, compared against control samples, revealed marked degradation in the soil's index and engineering properties. The findings indicate that improper LiB disposal not only degrades soil quality but also poses serious threats to human health and surrounding ecosystems. Additionally, a scenario-based focused group discussion corroborated these risks. The research underscores the urgent need for effective LiB waste management practices and regulatory oversight to mitigate long-term environmental and health impacts. • Quantified environmental risks of EOL lithium-ion battery waste through scenario-based analysis. • Laboratory testing confirmed soil degradation due to improper LiB disposal. • Highlights the need for regulatory action and improved waste management strategies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016125004200Risk MatrixEnd-of-life (EOL) battery disposalSoil conditionsCause-consequence analysisScenario-based impact assessmentNetwork diagram |
| spellingShingle | Preeti Mishra Sayali Apte Vaishnavi Dhok Assessing the environmental impact and risks associated with uncontrolled disposal of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries on soil MethodsX Risk Matrix End-of-life (EOL) battery disposal Soil conditions Cause-consequence analysis Scenario-based impact assessment Network diagram |
| title | Assessing the environmental impact and risks associated with uncontrolled disposal of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries on soil |
| title_full | Assessing the environmental impact and risks associated with uncontrolled disposal of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries on soil |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the environmental impact and risks associated with uncontrolled disposal of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries on soil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the environmental impact and risks associated with uncontrolled disposal of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries on soil |
| title_short | Assessing the environmental impact and risks associated with uncontrolled disposal of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries on soil |
| title_sort | assessing the environmental impact and risks associated with uncontrolled disposal of end of life lithium ion batteries on soil |
| topic | Risk Matrix End-of-life (EOL) battery disposal Soil conditions Cause-consequence analysis Scenario-based impact assessment Network diagram |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016125004200 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT preetimishra assessingtheenvironmentalimpactandrisksassociatedwithuncontrolleddisposalofendoflifelithiumionbatteriesonsoil AT sayaliapte assessingtheenvironmentalimpactandrisksassociatedwithuncontrolleddisposalofendoflifelithiumionbatteriesonsoil AT vaishnavidhok assessingtheenvironmentalimpactandrisksassociatedwithuncontrolleddisposalofendoflifelithiumionbatteriesonsoil |