Does Contact With An Old Battery Cause Cancer?

Posted on Wed, 14 Dec 2016

Question: Thanks for your reply. I have a question that I hope you can help me with. I've been quite worried about a situation.
I came across an old disposable camera in my drawer. It is over 10 years old and whilst looking at it I noticed something wet coming out of the casing and the flash. I don't know what it could be and am worried it could be battery acid if this has leaked inside.
My concern is that I have a 16 month old baby who I breastfeed and I had kept this camera in with my bras (I forgot it was there). I feel worried that this liquid could have transfered to my bras and then my baby and it could be a repeated exposure that could cause cancer. I'm really scared about this and wondered if you can advise me if this liquid could be carcinogenic. Sorry if it's a strange question but I do feel worried about it.
Many thanks for your time.

Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (29 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hello dear. No need to worry.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. There is absolutely no need to worry. There is no case in which a battery content was the cause of cancer. As of now, i have not seen a single case with such exposure and cancer.
Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (5 hours later)

Many thanks for getting back to me doctor. I had read that battery acid is highly toxic and carcinogenic ? Is this correct? It just worries me that doctors dont know what causes cancer and Sge could have been exposed to this repeated times. I don't know if the liquid was definitely battery acid or if it was something else carcinogenic. I'm concerned about that too
Many thanks.

Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
HELLO. PLEASE DO NOT WORRY.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again. So i would through some more light on it. The battery content can be either lead acid or nickel cadmium heavy metal or lithium . Lead acid is not related to cancer. Now comes nickel cadmium and lithium batteries. There may be risk associated with these but that is limited to only those people who are engaged in battery recycling industry for a prolonged period of time. . Even if i suppose the content in your battery leak was nickel cadmium or lithium, even then i dont think there will be a possibility of cancer in future as the exposure was very limited and single time.
Such type of accidental exposure to small amount of battery content are not associated with cancer and i have really not come across such incident.
Hope it is clear now.
Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (5 hours later)

Thanks i feel a bit clearer about it. I just read that batteries contain sulfuric acid which is carcinogenic and if batteries are non european they can be highly carcinogenic and dont know what type of battery was inside. I worry as my baby is 16 months old and i have been feeding all this time and not realised the camera was in contact with my bras. I worried incase the substance transfered repeatedly to her mouth or skin and was absorbed and is then repeated exposures. Also if i got it on my skin without knowing could it have been absorbed into my milk which she is drinking?
Sorry i just feel worried about all this as i dont know if it was definitly battery acid it could be sonethimg else from the camera which is carcinogenic ?
Sorry for more questions i just worry about cancer.

Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hello. No need to worry.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. Its almost impossible that it will go to milk. So no need to worry.
Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (40 minutes later)

Can you explain how that can be as what i tead onljne said that anything on the skin can pass to milk. Abd can you comnent on my conceen anlut the sulfuric acid and about it being a repeated exposure over the 16 months of feeding.

Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hello again. The exposure is too small to pose risk

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. I again suggest that the its not possible for any liquid to percolate upto the milk as in between there are many layers of tissues. Moreover, can cer usually develops in those individuals who are occupationally engaged in such chemical activities n not an isolated incidental exposure.
Hope it solves your query.
Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (8 hours later)

Would it still be too small of N exposure though even though I don't know how much liquid might of been in contact with my bras and my skin over the last 16 months?
Many thanks for answering me.

Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes. Its a miniscule exposure

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. It must be a small exposure. No need to worry.
Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. REMY KOSHY

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (22 minutes later)

I'm hoping it is a small exposure but I just don't know as I only noticed the camera last week.
I worry if a lot of the liquid came out before I noticed and this is the last of it left. Would that not be a concern especially with a baby's body and organs being so small?

Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Please relax. Nothing to afraid

Detailed Answer:
Hello. You should nit be worried about things which are not certain even. Even only a few (some 1 out of 100) develop cancer who are exposed to battery fumes for years together. Now you can urself determine the risk if at all there.
Thanks and regards

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar