By Obiabin Onukwugha
A professor of Analytical/Environment Chemistry, Prof. Innocent Nnorom, has emphasised the need for proper battery handling and recycling, stating that no fewer than one million children die from lead poisoning-related issues across the globe on yearly basis.
Nnorom spoke at one-day sensitisation and engagement programme with battery collectors and recyclers organized by the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in collaboration with Alliance for Responsible Battery Recycling (ARBR) at the NESREA South/South zonal office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday.
The professor of Analytical/Environment Chemistry, who lectures at the Department of Chemistry, Abia State University, stated that when children are exposed to lead, a component of battery, it affects them all-round.
He also revealed that being exposed to lead has been linked with reproductive issues among adults.
According to him, lead has a lifespan of 28 days in human blood and being exposed to it on daily basis has great negative impacts on people.
Nnorom further revealed that such sicknesses as anaemia, increase in blood pressure, brain damage, kidney and deaths have been linked to lead, and called on battery recyclers to adopt healthy life style such as avoiding exposure to lead, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), frequent washing of hands, avoiding pica and discouraging hand-to-mouth practices among children exposed to lead.
He also informed that eating diets rich in antioxidants such as vitamins C, E, B6, B1, calcium, iron, and as well herbs such as red clover, St Mary thistle, and dandelion, have been proved to play a significant role in managing Pb Rousing and reducing the impacts of lead in human health.
Speaking with NatureNews shortly after the program, the South/South Zonal Director, NESREA, Nosa Aigbedion, said batteries can be recycled as many times as possible until it’s no longer able to meet the capacity of the expected appliances that is meant for.
Aigbedion, who presented the Keynote Lecture at the program maintained that battery that has reached their end of life is hazardous and if not disposed in an environment friendly manner, can pose health risks both to the environment and humans.
He advised that such batteries should be taken to proper collectors for recycling purpose so that it is not disposed in a public environment as the acid content of the battery itself is corrosive, hazardous and toxic to the environment.
He emphaised that such batteries must be managed properly so that it does not become a source of pollution to the environment and begin to affect our health as human beings.
On her part, the Executive Secretary, Alliance for Responsible Battery Recycling (ARBR), Mrs. Miranda Amachree, said the aim of the program was to sensitise the informal battery handlers on their responsibilities to protect themselves and the environment.
ARBR is the organisation leading a national effort to promote responsible battery recycling in Nigeria.
Amachree in her presentation pointed out that proper battery recycling conserves natural resources and promotes economic growth.
She emphasised the need for importers to take responsibility for battery waste.
She also revealed that ARBR as the body responsible for implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Program in Nigeria, carries out free blood test twice a year for battery recyclers and encouraged all unregistered battery recyclers to register with the body and receive the Guidelines in order to operate within the provisions of the law.
She further informed that benefits of the EPR include; technical support and incentives to upgrade, upscale production technology and processes; access to grants, and financial support through developmental partners; and ensure of environmental regulation/policy for the protection of the environment, amongst others, for registered battery handlers.
Some of the participants who spoke during the program expressed readiness to collaborate with NESREA and ARBR in their operations.
They also proffered some solutions that could help get more persons to register, such as taking such sensitisation programs and meetings to their places of operations.
The participants drawn from the South/South and Southeast geopolitical zones of the state comprised of registered formal and informal collectors of recycled batteries.
High point of the program was a sensitisation visit to the Ikoku spare parts market, Mile 3 and as well Oyigbo and Eleme on Thursday.