Aggregator

schwit1 shares a report from Slow Boring: A new report (PDF) from the Center for Global Development documents that most of [the decentralized solar/battery systems used in poor countries in sub-Saharan Africa] use lead-acid batteries, like Americans use in cars. Lead-acid batteries work for a while and then need to be recycled. If they're recycled safely, that's fine. But in poor countries, most lead-acid batteries are not recycled safely and they become a huge source of toxic lead poisoning. C.G.D. believes that decentralized solar systems are currently generating somewhere between 250,000 and 1.5 million tons of unsafe lead-acid battery waste per year, a number that could grow much higher. Americans have mostly heard about lead issues in recent years due to the tragic situation in Flint, Michigan. But on the whole, lead exposure via faulty water pipes is a relatively minor issue. Across American history, the biggest culprits for lead exposure have been lead paint and leaded gasoline. Both were phased out decades ago, but old paint chips and lingering lead in soil have remained problems for years, albeit at diminishing rates. The global situation is quite different and much worse, to the point that in low- and middle-income countries, half of children have blood lead levels above the threshold that would trigger emergency action in the United States. It sounds fantastical to cite numbers this high. But there is credible (albeit somewhat uncertain) research indicating that five million people per year die as a result of lead-induced cardiovascular impairments. And roughly 20 percent of the gap in academic achievement between poor and rich countries is due to lead's impact on kids' cognitive development. The report goes on to note that lead-acid batteries dominate solar storage in poorer countries because they're far cheaper than lithium-ion alternatives. When these lead batteries reach end-of-life, they are often recycled unsafely, creating significant lead pollution. It's difficult to determine the scale of the problem due to limited data and minimal attention from policymakers, but researchers say it could become massive as solar adoption accelerates. Since safer battery technologies and proper recycling methods already exist, the issue largely stems from cost and lack of regulation. In other words, the problem is solvable if addressed early.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

£169m of developer contributions for vital infrastructure improvements is waiting to be spent

The TV star confirmed earlier this month she was to undergo major spinal surgery after years of suffering with chronic back pain.

Locals living near Southbourne Beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, believe the area has become overrun with holiday lets, which they claim are ruining the family-feel of the area.

From Berlin and Los Angeles, to South Korea and London, these are Time Out's greatest cinemas in the world. Does your local make the top 100?

They were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of encouraging or assisting in a crime. The pair have since been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Greater Anglia says trains from London Liverpool Street station to Stansted Airport have been impacted by a points failure in Clapton, London.

Essex Police says working with communities has helped the number of crimes in the county’s rural areas drop by five per cent in the past year.

The England and Man United defender was on Wednesday found guilty of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery six years after a brawl on a family holiday in August 2020.

Cathy Walker, a former assistant headteacher, said listening to words increase children's vocabulary and boosts children's enthusiasm for stories

Southwark Crown Court heard how he grabbed five rings worth £34,000 from SKO Jewellery Ltd in Mayfair on February 28, 2023.

The Scotland Yard officer channels his inner Nicholas Angel as he athletically hurdles over the wooden panelled barrier.

The longtime friends were discussing Harry Styles' new album, Kiss All The Time Disco Occasionally, when Ant 'icked' out Dec with the admission.

Katie Price was out running errands with her son Harvey on Wednesday while her new husband Lee Andrews remained stuck in Dubai - just as her 'inner doubts' about their marriage were revealed.

Andrew Malkinson was finally freed from jail in 2020 having been wrongly convicted of the 2003 attack in Salford, Greater Manchester based on 'mistaken' identification by witnesses, a jury was told.

Keir Starmer is engaged in a bitter and increasingly personal row with the US president over Britain's refusal to allow UK bases to be used.

Up to nearly 50,000 more files linked to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein will be released later this week, and are believed to contain unverified claims about President Donald Trump. 

Zoe Ball has spoken about the challenges of introducing new partners to her family, as she continues to enjoy her romance with a 'sexy' new boyfriend.

Government insiders have insisted they 'understand the pressure people are under' amid concerns that the chaos is set to continue.

Suffolk PCs Richard Ford and Lee Woodward have won £11,483 each for sex discrimination after they were removed from their unit and replaced by females who could do strip searches on women.