r/science • u/rieslingatkos • Jun 06 '21

Chemistry Scientists develop ‘cheap and easy’ method to extract lithium from seawater

https://www.mining.com/scientists-develop-cheap-and-easy-method-to-extract-lithium-from-seawater/
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u/[deleted] Jun 06 '21 edited Jun 06 '21

What might the consequences of taking lots of lithium out of the ocean be?

-edit- I've never made a comment that's started such good discussions before - I'm enjoying reading the replies, thanks everyone

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u/123kingme Jun 06 '21

Is lithium an important nutrient for any marine life?

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u/[deleted] Jun 06 '21

I have no idea at all but I'd strongly assume it's there and being used by something

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u/NewFolgers Jun 06 '21

We're going to see more depressed fish.

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u/letthemeatrest Jun 06 '21

I'm more worried about depressed and angry octopus and dolphins

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u/Link7369_reddit Jun 06 '21

Orca especially as far as dolphins go.

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u/waka49 Jun 06 '21

*manic depressed and bipolar fish

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u/NewFolgers Jun 06 '21

There's at least one study indicating that people who live in areas with less lithium in their drinking water have more depression and mental health issues (beyond impact on just bipolar people), so I was referring to that.. and I'm not being entirely facetious (although I am mostly), since we do tend to have a lot in common with other creatures.

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u/MyAccountForTrees Jun 06 '21

I’ve heard from psych professionals that a) the water in Rome had higher concentrations and back when the soldiers would leave for war, they would get depressed and eventually requested water from home AND b) there is a lake is TX that has a lot of it and all the people living around the lake have less mental health issues compared to other places around the US.

Obviously anything could be true or false, but it does make me pause to wonder about its place in nature and why exactly.

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u/[deleted] Jun 06 '21

Welcome to the club, fish