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10 Appendix
The risks and your role in minimizing them
By participating in the proper waste disposal, you would
make a valuable contribution towards reducing the dam-
ages possibly caused to the environment and human
health by the batteries or accumulators. For proper re-
cycling, you should return the instrument and/or the bat-
teries it contains to the manufacturer or to a designated
collection point.
Some batteries or accumulators contain toxic metals
that pose serious risks to human health and to the envi-
ronment. When required, the product marking may in-
clude chemical symbols that indicate the presence of
toxic metals in the product: Pb for lead, Hg for mercury,
and Cd for cadmium.
● Cadmium poisoning can result in cancer of the lungs
and prostate gland. Chronic diseases may include
kidney damage, pulmonary emphysema, as well as
bone diseases such as osteomalcia and osteoporo-
sis. Cadmium may also cause anemia, discoloration
of the teeth, and anosmia (loss of smell).
10-28
● Lead is poisonous in all compounds. It accumulates
in the body so that any form of exposure is critical. In-
gestion and inhalation of lead can cause severe inter-
nal injuries. These may result in brain damage,
convulsions, malnutrition, and sterility.
● Mercury creates hazardous vapors already at room
temperature. Exposure to high concentrations of
mercury vapor can cause a variety of severe symp-
toms. These include e.g. chronic inflammation of
mouth and gums, personality change, nervousness,
fever, and rashes.
Edition 4 (05/2014)
Environmental protection regulations
DMS Go+
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