As much as 90 per cent of zinc-carbon cells used in batteries every year in India ends up in landfills, according to a new report. Over time, when the covering of these batteries, or dry cells, corrode, the heavy metals inside mixes with the soil. Eventually, they may also contaminate ground and surface water and enter our food chain through fruits and vegetables, the report by Toxic Link added. Some of the metal also get burnt in landfill and pollute the air we breathe, according to the report released March 13, 2019. Direct or indirect consumption of heavy metals may have neurological impacts, damage the kidney and even cause cancer. The problem is not limited to zinc-carbon.
— source downtoearth.org.in | 13 Mar 2019