Reducing Industrial Emissions

The manufacturing of lead batteries in developing and newly industrialized countries, as well as the informal collection and recycling of used lead batteries in unregistered smelters, releases large quantities of lead into the environment. These exposures result in significant health impacts to workers and children in affected communities. The lead battery industry in Asia is growing rapidly yet there are few technical experts in many of these countries working on improving environmental controls for these facilities. To encourage improvements in the lead battery industry, we conduct training and outreach in addition to providing technical assistance to battery manufacturers, government agencies, and vehicle manufacturers.

Examples of our work include:

• Occupational Knowledge International has provided technical assistance to the Vietnam Environmental Administration (VEA) on environmental controls, occupational health measures, and the management of used lead batteries. We organized a two-day training in Ho Chi Minh City for battery manufacturers and government officials on safe work practices, air monitoring techniques, emissions controls and related topics.

• In China, we have partnered with the Vehicle Emission Control Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection (VECC-MEP) and the China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC), to raise awareness of the hazards of lead battery manufacturing and recycling. This cooperation was aimed at encouraging improvements in these industries.