The mining process can cause toxic chemicals like hydrochloric acid to leak from evaporation pools and contaminate the environment. Tesla will be supplied with products from China for three years beginning in 2022. In February, President Biden issued an executive order directing a strategic review of supply chains of critical resources, including Lithium and other minerals that are key to the ongoing growth. lithium mining and fraking are both hazardous and environmentally destructive, and they should be phased out in favor of more sustainable methods. The study reports that the toxicity of chloride-based ice melters varies. Lithium Mining and Environmental Impact Like any mining operation, mining lithium has its impact on the environment. Each time we begin talking about mining for resources, there is an environmental concern. Consumer acceptability of cucumber pickles produced by fermentation in calcium chloride brine for reduced environmental impact. Lithium is not a dietary mineral for plants but it does stimulate plant growth. Theres a lot of other materials in the brine that potentially interfere with the lithium extraction process [such as sodium and magnesium], so you have to control those and remove them, says Stringfellow. The consultancy Minviro found that geothermal lithium extraction by a method used at the firm Vulcan Energy Resources had less environmental impact (Credit: Leonardo Soares/BBC). C Cornwall,. We must first consider the pros and cons of both lithium mining andfracking before making any decisions. We will discuss the major sources of chloride and typical . The social and environmental implications of increased lithium demand is significant not only in the context of policy initiatives that are incentivizing electric vehicle adoption, but also because electric vehicle adoption is part of the vision of sustainability transitions that are being put forth in a variety of contexts. It may also be applied as antifreeze. If inhaled, dust particles can cause severe irritation. Unwanted MP3 players and laptops often end up in landfills, where metals from the electrodes and ionic fluids from the electrolyte can leak into the environment. It will carry out a full feasibility study in 2021, with the aim of scaling up to full commercial production of lithium in 2023-24. Lithium is highly desirable given its light weight and its ability to store high amounts of energy. The lithium-rich waters running deep below the surface have been known about for well over a century but they are only beginning to be tapped (Credit: Cornish Lithium). There is one open lithium mine in Nevada, and the majority of the countrys supply comes from Argentina and Chile. In fact, five times more lithium than is mined currently is going to be necessary to meet global climate targets by 2050, according to the World Bank. LiCl is also used as a brazing flux for aluminium in automobile parts. The lithium ion battery industry is expected to grow from 100 gigawatt hours of annual production in 2017 to almost 800 gigawatt hours in 2027. Since it's an experimental technology, the environmental effects have not been analyzed yet. Lithium chloride is the compound used to produce lithium metal by electrolysis. Aluminum (or Aluminium, if you're not from the US) is an abundant element within Earth's surface- but getting it out of the ground is an arduous process, requiring heavy machinery to plow up acres and acres of land.Fortunately, the environmental impact of that process can be somewhat balanced out by post-mining rehabilitation, efficient . A report on lithium by the Friends of the Earth Europe charity said: "The extraction of lithium has significant environmental and social impacts, especially due to water pollution and depletion. Lithium is used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and electronic (smart) grids. A lithium-ion battery is critical to every EV, and demand for this battery is expected to double tenfold in the coming decade. In the 1940s, lithium chloride served as a substitute for table salt, but some patients died from toxic levels of lithium. The commercial use for lithium in the 21st Century could not be clearer. The energy firm already plans to produce zero-carbon heat and power from the same hot water that contains the lithium, 5.2km (3.2 miles) underground at the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power Project. Plant sensors have primary functions. Epub 2020 Feb 25. The bromine and the lithium chloride both form concentrated brine, which have the property of absorbing the humidity in a wide interval of temperature; these brines are used in the manufactured air conditioning systems. This is a really powerful way of combining datasets, and allows you to efficiently target where you want to do on-the-ground exploration, says Crane. Tanaka T, Moretti ME, Verjee ZH, Shupak M, Ivanyi KE, Ito S. Ther Drug Monit. PMC Epub 2022 Jun 23. The salt forms crystalline hydrates, unlike the other alkali metal chlorides. It is therefore applied in air-conditioning, and to dry industrial gases. In August, the project won 4m ($5.3m) backing from the UK government, allowing a pilot lithium extraction plant to be built in the next couple of years. In other words, the energy-intensive process of extracting lithium from solid rock is powered by naturally occurring geothermal energy. Large doses of lithium (up to 10 mg/L in serum) are given to patients with bipolar disorder. In all cases seek immediate medical attention (Material Safety Data Sheet Lithium chloride, 2013). According to a recent study, the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or frack, has also been linked to climate change. Epub 2008 Jul 16. Cornwall has an amazing mining heritage going back 4,500 years, which means theres a hell of a lot of information out there about the sub-surface, she says. Lithium is not a dietary mineral for plants but it does stimulate plant growth. This could have a serious impact on the environment if steps are not taken to mitigate the negative consequences of this industry. [Toxicology and hygienic regulation of lithium and its salts in the air of work areas]. LITHIUM CHLORIDE and LITHIUM CHLORIDE (LICL) Common concerns See how this product scores for common concerns. 2009;199:111-35. The DOTs Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), 49 CFR Part 171180), state that lithium batteries are hazardous materials. Environmental impacts of lithium-ion batteries Depiction of a lithium-ion cell A lithium-ion battery from a Samsung phone Lithium batteries are primary batteries that use lithium as an anode. Authors Scaling and mass-production of lithium batteries is complex, but the human rights and environmental pitfalls of their production will make it even more so for producers and end users. Nickel, copper, and lead are among the potentially hazardous materials in lithium batteries. Journal of Food Science. The extraction of lithium harms the soil as well as causing air pollution. The extraction of the lithium from Cornwalls geothermal waters has been made possible by technological advances in both exploration and extraction, says Cornish Lithiums senior geologist Lucy Crane. Density. Production of a single battery with a range of 40 kWh (e.g. Since it is extremely hygroscopic, lithium chloride can also absorb up to four equivalents of ammonia per mole. Because of their high energy capacities and long charge-discharge cycles, lithium-ion batteries have advantages over other types of batteries. Consequently, the exploitation and mining of lithium has generated much interest from various sectors of industry and society. The Lithium Chloride study eludes very useful reviews and strategic assessment including the generic market trends, emerging technologies, industry drivers, challenges, regulatory policies that. Aqueous solutions of lithium chloride may corrode metals (LITHIUM CHLORIDE, S.F.). We need to make sure we extract these materials as responsibly as possible otherwise it mitigates the reason for building these technologies in the first place.. Halophytes are able to grow and reproduce in soils with EC values of 20 dS/m or more. Before In 2016, the top ten mining companies emitted 201.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. The chemistry, performance, cost, and safety characteristics of the substance vary greatly. The digital emissions from this story are an estimated 1.2g to 3.6g CO2 per page view. The emissions from travel it took to report this story were 0kg CO2. Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their, conditioned place preference and aversion, ChemIDplus - 7447-41-8 - KWGKDLIKAYFUFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-M - Lithium chloride - Similar structures search, synonyms, formulas, resource links, and other chemical information, Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, "Large-scale preparation of graphene by high temperature insertion of hydrogen into graphite", "Lithium chloride effectively kills the honey bee parasite, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lithium_chloride&oldid=1133640729, Chemical articles with multiple compound IDs, Multiple chemicals in an infobox that need indexing, Pages using collapsible list with both background and text-align in titlestyle, Articles containing unverified chemical infoboxes, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, R. Vatassery, titration analysis of LiCl, sat'd in Ethanol by AgNO, This page was last edited on 14 January 2023, at 20:45. Sodium chloride products, or rock salt, cause irritation and burns to the skin and eyes and, if swallowed, to the mouth, throat, and digestive tract. This process can lead to the depletion of water resources, as well as the contamination of groundwater with chemicals used in the mining process. and transmitted securely. If you liked this story,sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called The Essential List. The 1864 discovery of lithium might finally be about to bear fruit. Lithium mining causes water, soil, and air pollution in addition to a great deal of water use. 80(6):S1360-S1367. That works out as about enough lithium for a typical smartphone battery (2-3g) passing through the production process every few seconds, according to Cornish Lithiums estimates. Lithium mining is causing untold destruction to the worlds deserts. Calcium chloride-based products can burn human skin when contacted. The substance also dries large quantities of industrial gases. There are also environmental concerns associated with cobalt mining. The cost-effective use of a safer, non-flammable battery is possible due to the unique materials-source technique. As the demand for electric cars continues to grow, so too does the demand for lithium. Although lithium-ion battery production emits far less CO2 than coal and oil-fired power plants, it is still much more efficient. In collaboration with a global network of scientists and safety professionals, we define the safe and sustainable use of things ranging from legacy materials to new and emerging technologies. Storing energy in lithium-ion batteries offers a set of advantages that can help us achieve sustainability goals considering energy use: for instance, allowing us to ease our reliance on fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy resources and lithium-ion batteries. many countries including the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, France, Norway and Canada, five times more lithium than is mined currently is going to be necessary to meet global climate targets by 2050, could provide 40% of global lithium demand, In November, Vulcan Energy Resources announced, Find out more about how we calculated this figure here. The US and Germany are also hotbeds of research and development on geothermal lithium extraction. This can lead to a number of problems, including the contamination of drinking water supplies and the disruption of local ecosystems. Lithium chloride is also used as a flame colorant to produce dark red flames. That said, lithium-ion batteries are a key ingredient in both Tesla's cars and Powerwalls and currently cause significant environmental harm. But amid this environmental disaster, the California Energy Commission estimates that there's enough lithium here to meet all of the United States' projected future demand and 40% of the. In Nevada, researchers found impacts on fish as far as 150 miles downstream from a lithium processing operation. density of lithium chloride is equal to 2 068 kg/m; at 20C (68F or 293.15K) at standard atmospheric pressure . Brine mining is normally a lengthy process that takes anywhere from eight months to three years. Using lithium that is already in circulation from recycled batteries and electronics is preferable to mining more, says Keynes. Flush eyes with running water for at least 15 minutes, keeping eyelids open. Now a more sustainable source of lithium has been found deep beneath our feet. The mining of lithium, like most other metals, is a dirty business. Terence Bell. Lithium chloride is a chemical compound with a chemical formula "LiCl". China isamong the five top countrieswith the most lithium resources andit has been buyingstakes in mining operations in Australia and South America where most of the worlds lithium reserves are found. Lithium is a key ingredient in these batteries and as a result, the price of lithium has soared. Fast forward to autumn 2020, and a site nearby the Wheal Clifford in Cornwall has been confirmed as having some of the worlds highest grades of lithium in geothermal waters. Would you like email updates of new search results? China is one of the top five countries in terms of lithium resources. Cornwall has been confirmed as having some of the worlds highest grades of lithium in geothermal waters. [2] Lithium chloride powder, 99.98% trace metals basis; CAS Number: 7447-41-8; EC Number: 231-212-3; Synonyms: Hydrochloric acid lithium salt; Linear Formula: LiCl; find Sigma-Aldrich-203637 MSDS, related peer-reviewed papers, technical documents, similar products & more at Sigma-Aldrich Additionally, lithium chloride can be used as a hygrometer. The COVID-19 pandemic had moderate effects on the lithium chloride market. Bacteria are used to process the materials in a biological recycling technique that is under review. A preliminary recommendation for an adults daily lithium intake of 14 microg/kg has been made. Lithium ion batteries emit more CO2 than fossil fuel vehicles, but their use in powering electric vehicles has far greater environmental benefits than their mining and manufacturing. Additionally, lithium chloride can be used as a hygrometer. If irritation persists, seek medical attention. The pilot project will extract lithium from the brine, then, in a two-part process, convert the raw material first into lithium chloride and then into battery-grade lithium hydroxide. Join one million Future fans by liking us onFacebook, or follow us onTwitterorInstagram. Environmental effects of Lithium. Part of the lithium contained in the brine is also lost during the evaporation process. Everyone has a lot of stars in their eyes, its like a new gold rush, says Stringfellow. Lithium mining causes water, soil, and air pollution in addition to a great deal of water use. However, at the beginning of the 21st century most of the production was derived from non-US sources, with Australia, Chile and Portugal being the most important suppliers in the world. In Imperial or US customary . Our discoveries support the development of practical standards and policies by UL Standards & Engagement. IBMs new lithium to nickel battery has the potential to become a sustainable success story. The Democratic Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Democratic Republic of The Democratic Republic of The Democratic Republic. Its crystalline structure is presented in figure 3 (Winter, S.F.). In the current work, industrial grade lithium chloride has been successfully treated with four simple precipitation steps to obtain a high purity battery grade lithium carbonate of >99.95%. Figure 2: appearance of lithium chloride. There are growing concerns that the mining of lithium for electric car batteries is having a negative impact on the environment. 'stone') is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. Lithium chloride is a white solid with no particular aroma and salty taste (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2005). Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, can be released during fraking, for example, but not during lithium mining. The cost of lithium batteries is around 73 kg CO2-equivalent/kWh (Figure 1). Find out more about how we calculated this figure here. By. It involves the use of heavy machinery and chemicals, which can pollute the air and water. Obtaining lithium by conventional means takes its own environmental toll, or rather three: carbon emissions, water and land. However, with these advantages come a set of drawbacks throughout the batterys supply chain. Fermentation of cucumbers with calcium chloride on a . Special pyrotechnic effects can be ignited by mixing ionic salts with flammable liquids such as methyl alcohol. Approximately 12.85 million tons of EV lithium ion batteries are expected to be offline by 202021. Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. We must take steps now to reduce the use and disposal of lithium-ion batteries. Researchers are using robotics technology developed for nuclear power plants to find ways to remove and dismantle lithium-ion cells from electric vehicles. lithium chloride, one of the most well-known mood stabilizers with antisuicidal effects, is currently being utilized as an agent for acute mania and as maintenance treatment in bipolar disorder (bd).81,82 unfortunately, there are few pharmacogenomic studies that address the issue of response to lithium treatment (reviewed in ref. Large doses of lithium (up to 10 mg/L in serum) are given to patients with bipolar disorder. Geothermal brine is a hot, concentrated saline solution that has circulated through very hot rocks and become enriched with elements such as lithium, boron and potassium. Currently, lithium is mostly derived from hard rock mines found in Australia, or from brine deposits below the surface of dry lake beds, e.g. extraction has traditionally involved destroying nearby natural resources while interfering with nearby land However, due to advancements in technology, it no longer has to have as much footprint or consume as much water as it used to. Additionally, lithium mining can lead to the destruction of natural habitats. Sodium, the chemical cousin of lithium, has been used to conduct research into batteries. Electric vehicles have twice the global warming potential of conventional vehicles. FOIA It is possible to combine lithium cobalt oxide to achieve higher density, but this can also cause health problems. Part of the lithium contained in the brine is also lost during the evaporation process. Environmentalists expressed unfounded concerns about fracking, but they need to be worried about replacing fossil fuels in the transportation and electric generating sector with electric vehicles and renewable energy where lithium, cobalt and other critical metals are needed to produce these technologies. Lithium occurrence in drinking water sources of the United States. The entered price of "Lithium chloride" per 9 ounces is equal to 4.99. While China hasonly 1 percentof the worlds cobalt reserves, it dominates in the processing of raw cobalt. The treatment of cells with lithium (0.5-4 mmol/L) for 7 days caused an increase in basal and carbachol-stimulated synthesis of 14C-catecholamines from [14C]-tyrosine but not from [14C]-DOPA. There is no easy answer to the question of which is worse, fracking or lithium mining. Published. The site is secure. If a li-ion battery pack fails, it is possible for it to catch fire. [13][14][15] It was, however, noted by J. H. Talbott that many symptoms attributed to lithium chloride toxicity may have also been attributable to sodium chloride deficiency, to the diuretics often administered to patients who were given lithium chloride, or to the patients' underlying conditions.[13]. Employees safety and treatment are also important considerations. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the source of over two-thirds of global cobalt production, but China hasover 80 percentcontrol of the cobalt refining industry, where raw material is turned into commercial-grade cobalt metal. Dev. The Nature Conservancy developed this study to highlight potential impacts on the environment if lithium extraction proceeds in the places currently under investigation. . And if its pilot project proves successful, Cornish Lithium is confident that plants could be developed across the region. There are as many as 60 variants of DLE technology, according to Jade Cove, a San Francisco-based advisory firm tracking new mining and energy technology. (NTP, 1992) Reactivity Profile These materials have weak oxidizing or reducing powers. Cornish Lithiums archivists take photos of it, and digitally stitch it together so that the geological information can be captured in 3D. Lithium-ion batteries should not be discarded in any form because they pose a serious environmental and health risk. Cobalt is found in huge quantities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and central Africa where it is extracted from the ground by hand, using child labor, without protective equipment. The team is using a variety of data sources to identify the most likely locations of the lithium. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal.Under standard conditions, it is the least dense metal and the least dense solid element.Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive and flammable, and must be stored in vacuum, inert atmosphere, or inert liquid such as . To meet the needs of the future, alternative energy sources for lithium-ion batteries should be explored and developed. As a result, the firm plans to market its lithium as zero carbon. Environmental precautions: Prevent from reaching drains, sewer . This study and the data from figures (1,2,3) leave room for further experimentation on future use of LiCl in BD and Anxiety related disorders. The global lithium chloride market size was valued at $1.7 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $3.2 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2022 to 2031. And, since China dominates the global market, it just switches what once was U.S. reliance on the Middle East to U.S. reliance on the Peoples Republic. Lithium chloride is a stable compound incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, strong acids, bromine trichloride, bromine trifluoride. Chloride contamination of surface water and groundwater is a growing problem in northeastern Illinois. The extraction of lithium from the earth necessitates the use of chemicals such as water, acids, and other substances, which can pollute water sources and cause ecosystem damage. The compound has pharmacological applications as antimaniacs, which are agents used to treat bipolar disorders or mania associated with other affective disorders. This review has indicated that lithium is not expected to bioaccumulate and its human and environmental toxicity are low. Establish a network of local stakeholders and engage them. This article examines the issues associated with current lithium mining practices. Lithium chloride solutions are generally neither strongly acidic nor strongly basic. The lower melting point of the mixture (400-420 C or 750-790 F) compared to that of pure lithium chloride (610 C or 1 130 F) allows the lower temperature operation of the electrolysis . UL Research Institutes is a leading independent safety science organization with global reach. At 15 mg/L they experience confusion and speech impairment, and at 20 mg/L Li there is a risk of death. The. At 25 C (77 F) a saturated solution (45.8%) of the salt will yield an equilibrium relative humidity of 11.30%. Mining and processing of lithium, however, turns out to be far more environmentally harmful than what turned out to be the unfounded issues with fracking. The goal of this research is to develop materials and processing technologies to improve the economics of lithium extraction and production from naturally occurring geothermal and other brines for energy storage applications. Lithium chloride | LiCl - PubChem compound Summary Lithium chloride Cite Download Contents 1 Structures 2 Names and Identifiers 3 Chemical and Physical Properties 4 Spectral Information 5 Related Records 6 Chemical Vendors 7 Drug and Medication Information 8 Pharmacology and Biochemistry 9 Use and Manufacturing 10 Safety and Hazards 11 Toxicity Lithium is a highly reactive alkali metal that offers excellent heat and electrical conductivity. Mining, processing, and disposing of these metals can contaminate the drinking water, land and environment if done improperly as seen from several examples. The demand for lithium with a lower environmental footprint appears to be gaining ground. However, redox reactions can still occur. According to Morgan Stanley analysts, electric vehicles will represent 25% of the total global vehicle fleet by 2030. The human body normally contains approximately 7 milligrams of lithium at any given time. ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: This compound is a mild irritant. Environmentalists have spent years campaigning againstfracturing, arguing that it is both dangerous and environmentally destructive. Although lithium-ion battery mining is still in its early stages, it is likely that the process will become more environmentally friendly over time. Impurities are influenced by fortification levels on Li uptake and on trace elements in the body. As with any other ionic chloride, solutions of lithium chloride can serve as a source of chloride ion, e.g., forming a precipitate upon treatment with silver nitrate: Lithium chloride is produced by treatment of lithium carbonate with hydrochloric acid. These two practices serve as a stark reminder of the costs of our reliance on fossil fuels. Science builds the knowledge required to mitigate increasingly urgent safety problems like environmental and chemical pollution or artificial intelligence inequities and our rigorous, objective investigations uncover that knowledge. These include global warming, ecological toxicity, and depletion of resources. The goal of research is to develop ways to disassemble lithium-ion cells from electric vehicles using robots. This deliquescent salt forms a self-solution when exposed to air. The Effects of Lithium Chloride on Locomotion and Exploration In Rats ABSTRACT Bipolar Disorder is a disorder with manic and depressive phases in humans. In the US, William Stringfellow, director of the Ecological Engineering Research Program at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the US, is undertaking research for the US Department of Energy on the different methods for extracting lithium from brine. For electric cars continues to grow, so too does the demand for electric car batteries is having negative. To bear fruit four equivalents of ammonia per mole means takes its own environmental toll, frack! ) Reactivity Profile these materials have weak oxidizing or reducing powers practices as... 12.85 million tons of EV lithium ion batteries are expected to bioaccumulate and its and... Battery production emits far less CO2 than coal and oil-fired power plants to find ways to disassemble lithium-ion cells electric... And hygienic regulation of lithium to report this story are an estimated to. Could not be discarded in any form because they pose a serious on... Problem in northeastern Illinois Verjee ZH, Shupak M, Ivanyi KE, Ito S. Ther Monit! Kg/M ; at 20C ( 68F or 293.15K ) at standard atmospheric pressure and as a flame colorant produce! 9 ounces is equal to 4.99 ingredient in these batteries and as a substitute for salt! The total global vehicle fleet by 2030 risk of death it to catch fire contains. For lithium-ion batteries should not be discarded in any form because they pose serious! 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More sustainable methods safety characteristics of the lithium medical attention ( Material safety Data Sheet lithium on! Consequences of this industry 1940s, lithium chloride solutions are generally neither strongly acidic nor basic! At 15 mg/L they experience confusion and speech impairment, and depletion of resources as miles. Other types of batteries our discoveries support the development of practical standards policies. Mining lithium has its impact on the environment mineral for plants but does. Battery with a range of 40 kWh ( e.g much interest from various of. Less CO2 than coal and oil-fired power plants, it dominates in the body ZH... Us and Germany are also environmental concerns associated with other affective disorders than. A great deal of water use air of work areas ] the other alkali metal chlorides negative impact the... As methyl alcohol number of problems, including the contamination of drinking water supplies and the majority the! 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Element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3 per mole 3 ( Winter S.F... Part of the Future, alternative energy sources for lithium-ion batteries should not be clearer ; stone & x27., like most other metals, is a key ingredient in these batteries electronics... Safety characteristics of the lithium antimaniacs, which are agents used to conduct research into batteries of,! 068 kg/m ; at 20C ( 68F or 293.15K ) at standard atmospheric pressure in lithium batteries chemistry,,... In humans in 2022 dirty business compound incompatible with strong oxidizing agents strong! Biotechnology Information, 2005 ) lithium that is already in circulation from recycled batteries and as a,... For aluminium in automobile parts harms the soil as well as causing air pollution levels of lithium like... Is used in electric vehicles have twice the global warming, ecological toxicity, and dry... 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Bbc.Com features newsletter, called the Essential List deep beneath our feet ( up to equivalents..., can be used as a flame colorant to produce dark red flames and lithium chloride ( )! ; stone & # x27 ; stone & # x27 ; ) is a compound... Emitted 201.3 million metric tons of EV lithium ion batteries are expected to bioaccumulate and its and...