Big news out of the automotive world last week as a sister company to Toyota Motor secured a lithium supply deal in Argentina that could help the world's largest automaker keep its lead in gasoline-electric hybrid cars.

Immediately we were prompted to ask, "at what cost?"

Any time we start talking about mining for resources, there is an environmental concern.  So while we're all for the pursuit of breaking America's dependence on fossil fuels in favor of alternatie fuels, specifically electirc cars, we know there's a bigger picture. 

"When it comes to mass production of hybrids, the main hurdle has been a shortage of batteries," said Yoshihiko Tabei, chief analyst at Kazaka Securities, in a recent Reuters story. "Toyota is taking a step on its own to secure the materials it needs to ensure stable production."

And the main material is lithium.  An element found in abundance in South America, where the cheapest extraction method evaporates salty brine in ponds lined with toxic PVC, and in lithium-rich regions of Chile where mining the material uses two-thirds of the area's drinking water.  According to a little research, lithium is the 33rd most abundant element; however, it does not naturally occur in elemental form due to its high reactivity.  Lithium metal, due to its alkaline tarnish, is corrosive and requires special handling to avoid skin contact. Breathing lithium dust or lithium compounds (which are often alkaline) can irritate the nose and throat; higher exposure to lithium can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs, leading to pulmonary edema. The metal itself is usually a handling hazard because of the caustic hydroxide produced when it is in contact with moisture causing an explosion. 

Apparently it's not as bad as that above paragraph makes it sound though, according to a recent article in TIME, "lithium mining, as observed in countries with deposits like Chile, Argentina and China, seems to be less hazardous than other kinds of mineral extraction. 'Lithium could be one of the least contaminating mining processes,' says Marco Octavio Rivera of Bolivia's Environmental Defense League, although he notes that prolonged exposure to lithium can cause nervous system disorders."

Everything comes at a higher cost than expected, so while the environmental impact might not be as bad as mountaintop mining, it's going to be important to pay attention to this lithium race and the politcal costs, social costs, and general level of cooperation displayed.  Not to mention the regulatory processes, foresight, and yes, the environmental impact, because there will be one. 

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