Lead consumption global

As indicated in Chapter 1, global lead consumption from secondary sources approached four million tonnes per year in 2005, or 60 per cent of total world consumption. Around 20 per cent of world consumption is for uses where recycling is difficult, such as for plastics stabilisers, for TV tube glass, for shot and ammunition. Of the remainder, ten per cent is used for rolled or extruded alloys and cable sheathing, which have long-term applications, and 70 per cent is used for batteries. Recyclable lead therefore is predominantly from used automotive batteries, with some from reclaimed sheet, cable sheathing and other metallic scrap. In addition there are various residues, drosses and flue dusts containing lead. 

A major reason for the lack of close tracking by lead production and consumption figures with source-specific lead emission rates in at least the near term is that the different classes of lead consumption involve lead products that differ greatly as to the U.S. and global dispersal rates to the human environment and what fractions of the original production and consumption amounts enter the human and ecological populations environment. 

Globally, undernutrition is widespread, leading to impaired growth, defective immune systems, and reduced work capacity. By contrast, in developed countries, there is often excessive food consumption (especially of fat), leading to obesity and to the development of cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer. Deficiencies of vitamin A, iron, and iodine pose major health concerns in many countries, and deficiencies of other vitamins and minerals are a major cause of iU health. In developed countries, nutrient deficiency is rare, though there are vulnerable sections of the population at risk. Intakes of minerals and vitamins that are adequate to prevent deficiency may be inadequate to promote optimum health and longevity. 

The necessity to satisfy the growth in consumption leads to an increase in the use of natural resources. Between 1960 and 1995 the global use of mineral raw materials increased by a factor of 2.5 metals 2.1, wood 2.3, and synthetic materials 5.6. This increase considerably exceeded the growth in population size, despite its extreme nonuniformity. For instance, the U.S.A. whose population constitutes about 5% of the world s consumes about one-fourth of the global resources of fossil fuel. The U.S.A.,... 

Alkaline electrolysis is a mature technology. It features a good efficiency (-66% LHV), an excellent lifetime of cell (above 20 years currently), and a production of 99.8% pure hydrogen at 30 bars. This leads to a global efficiency of -24% (based on a heat/electricity conversion efficiency of -35%). The main issue is the large fraction of the production cost (-80%) tied to the consumption of electricity (typically 2.6 out of EUR 3.2/kg H2 at EUR 54/MWh) [3.4 out of USD 4.2/kg H2 at USD 70/MWh], Besides, progress is sought to reduce the investment cost. 

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