Alkaline batteries are prone to leaking potassium hydroxide, a caustic agent that can cause respiratory, eye, and skin irritations. You can reduce the risks by not mixing battery types in the same device, and by replacing all of the batteries at the same time. You should store batteries in a dry place and avoid extremely high temperatures.
Keep alkaline batteries in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight and temperatures above freezing to ensure they don’t leak. Always check an alkaline battery for leaks or other damage before using it. You shouldn’t use a broken battery, and you should get rid of it in the right way if you find one. Do Alkaline Batteries Leak During Use?
One of those challenges is recognising a broken or damaged battery, especially because it is sometimes not visible from the outside that something is wrong inside. When you put a defective battery on the charger, it can catch fire. This can lead to a very intense battery fire with toxic smoke gases being released.
Additionally, physical damage to the battery casing or its internal components can lead to short circuits, which may also result in fires. Furthermore, defective or low-quality batteries may possess inherent flaws that heighten the likelihood of malfunction, compounding the potential hazards associated with electric vehicle batteries.
In addition, as the battery ages, its steel outer canister may gradually corrode or rust. Alkaline batteries are prone to leaking potassium hydroxide, a caustic agent that can cause respiratory, eye, and skin irritations. You can reduce the risks by not mixing battery types in the same device, and by replacing all of the batteries at the same time.
Batteries are safe, but caution is necessary when touching damaged cells and when handling lead acid systems that have access to lead and sulfuric acid. Several countries label lead acid as hazardous material, and rightly so. Lead can be a health hazard if not properly handled.