[A study on button-type alkali-manganese battery in Ringer's solution--limited injury factor on the electric...

Many cases of tissue injury caused by a button battery appearing as a foreign body have been reported in the otolaryngology field. However, there have been very few studies on the mechanism of tissue injury by batteries. In this study, we inserted a button-type battery into 4cm3 of Ringer's solution, which is similar to serous fluid, at both room temperature (20 degrees C) and body temperature (37 degrees C), and observed the electro-chemical reactions between the negative and positive terminals over 6 hours. We identified the products of these reactions, measured the remaining electromotive force (EMF), and observed the changes in pH and metallic ion concentrations over time. In conclusion, the following three major groups of factors causing tissue injury were suggested: 1) At the positive terminal the HCl acid and HClO produced broke down, and chlorine gas was dissolved into the solution. 2) At the negative terminal, the OH- radical was produced by reduction of water. 3) Potassium hydroxide (KOH), nickel (Ni2+), manganese (Mnn+), chrome (Crn+), and lead (Pb2+) leaked from the battery at the poles, due to oxidation, and were partially dissolved in the serous fluid. These factors may result in serious tissue injury. In addition, each electro-chemical reaction occurred in a very short time at these relatively high temperatures, and as a result, may be the cause of these tissue injuries.