Theoretical calculation of product contents: battery and cathode ray tube examples

Most product environmental assessments are based on manufacturer-supplied data on the material content of the product. This paper explores the potential for the material content of key components to be estimated with theoretical calculations. Two examples, the amount of cadmium in a nickel-cadmium battery and the amount of lead in a TV or computer CRT monitor, are developed. Both an upper and a lower limit on the amount of cadmium in a nickel-cadmium battery are calculated on the basis of the battery's chemical reaction. The amount of lead shielding needed in a TV or CRT computer monitor is estimated on the basis of the potential difference through which electrons are accelerated and the absorption length of photons in lead. Such calculations can be used as benchmarks in product environmental assessments, providing validation of manufacturer-supplied data and providing insight into the composition and design of products.