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The impact of anthropogenic inputs on lithium content in river and tap water

Author

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  • Hye-Bin Choi

    (Division of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Korea Basic Science Institute
    Department of Science Education, Ewha Womans University)

  • Jong-Sik Ryu

    (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Pukyong National University)

  • Woo-Jin Shin

    (Division of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Korea Basic Science Institute)

  • Nathalie Vigier

    (Oceanography Laboratory of Villefranche-sur-Mer (LOV), CNRS, Sorbonne University)

Abstract

The use of lithium (Li) has dramatically increased during the last two decades due to the proliferation of mobile electronic devices and the diversification of electric-powered vehicles. Lithium is also prescribed as a medication against bipolar disorder. While Li can exert a toxic effect on living organisms, few studies have investigated the impact of anthropogenic inputs on Li levels in the environment. Here we report Li concentrations and Li isotope compositions of river, waste and tap water, and industrial products from the metropolitan city of Seoul. Results show that the large increase in population density in Seoul is accompanied by a large enrichment in aqueous Li. Lithium isotopes evidence a major release from Li-rich materials. Water treatment protocols are also shown to be inefficient for Li. Our study therefore highlights the need for a global Li survey and adequate solutions for minimizing their impact on ecosystems and city dwellers.

Suggested Citation

  • Hye-Bin Choi & Jong-Sik Ryu & Woo-Jin Shin & Nathalie Vigier, 2019. "The impact of anthropogenic inputs on lithium content in river and tap water," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-13376-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13376-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Fei Zhang & Mathieu Dellinger & Robert G. Hilton & Jimin Yu & Mark B. Allen & Alexander L. Densmore & Hui Sun & Zhangdong Jin, 2022. "Hydrological control of river and seawater lithium isotopes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. John E. Schneider & Cara M. Scheibling & N. Andrew Peterson & Paula Stigler Granados & Lawrence Fulton & Thomas E. Novotny, 2020. "Online Simulation Model to Estimate the Total Costs of Tobacco Product Waste in Large U.S. Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Anne-Marie Desaulty & Daniel Monfort Climent & Gaétan Lefebvre & Antonella Cristiano-Tassi & David Peralta & Sébastien Perret & Anthony Urban & Catherine Guerrot, 2022. "Tracing the origin of lithium in Li-ion batteries using lithium isotopes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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