The EU's chemicals authority wants to classify the important battery metal lithium as hazardous to human reproduction.
It would mean stricter requirements on how lithium is handled in mines, battery factories and recycling facilities, so that the metal does not leak into nature.
Research indicates that lithium can inhibit fetal development and in rare cases cause malformations.
- Lithium passes from the mother's blood to the fetus and many studies indicate that high levels can affect the development of the fetus.
The EU's chemicals authority mainly considers the impact on the fetus's heart, says Marie Vahter, professor of environmental medicine at the Karolinska Institutet.
Industries critical of the proposal
Several trade associations within the European lithium industry have recently written an open letter to the European Commission, to stop it from labeling lithium as toxic.
- In our opinion, there is no scientific support for such a strict classification.
It would have serious consequences for Europe's ability to produce and process the lithium needed to meet our production targets for electric cars and batteries, says Chris Heron, head of communications at trade association Eurometaux.
The EU wants to become less dependent on the outside world for its lithium.
But if Europe tightens safety requirements, it will scare away investors to other parts of the world, the industry claims.
"Important that it is used correctly"
Researcher Marie Vahter is more concerned about what might happen if lithium is not regulated more tightly.
- It is very important that it is used in the right way, so that it does not get out into the environment as we have experienced with the emissions of lead or, most recently, PFAS.
So that it goes so far that it is almost impossible to back off and reduce the exposure, says Marie Vahter.
The EU Commission has not yet taken a final decision on how lithium is to be classified, but is expected to do so around the turn of the year after having finished negotiating the issue with the member states.
Sweden supports the proposal to classify lithium as reproductive harm.