Are their any chemists or chemical engineers out their?  I have the feeling
that their are a lot of assumptions being made out there.

Most new batteries today are sealed, and I believe the maid components of a
battery are lead and sulfuric(?) acid.  It could vary well be that the
byproduct when these 2 items combined is energy in the form of electricity,
and water vapor.

Just a thought.

Adam Puzerewski
81 westy
74 beetle
86 cabrio
Vanagon Partsmobiles
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Davidson" <wdavidson@thegrid.net>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, August 04, 2000 10:06 PM
Subject: Re: [VANAGON] Hot Air

> > I am confused.  I've driven air-cooled VWs for many years and the
battery
> > was under the rear seat.  It was not sealed.
> > Are you telling me I should close off the area under the seat in my '70
> > Beetle?
>
> Chris,
> I would not use the word 'should' ... it is certainly an individual's
choice
> what they choose to inhale into their lungs.
>
> As to why some vehicles do not the seal battery compartments that are in
> passenger areas even though the fumes a battery emits are toxic:
>
> Just because the legal authorities allow or even approve something does
not
> mean it is healthy for you.... after all the domestic water pipes of Rome
> were made of lead :)    ... but, of course we of the great American
Century
> are much too enlightened for that aren't we? .... I guess that's why the
> government not only allowed, but insisted on, adding MTBE to gasoline :)
>
> Personlly, I choose not to trust the government with protecting my health
> and so I choose not to breathe the battery fumes because common sense
tells
> me not to inhale toxic fumes...
> '
> It is your choice... no 'shoulds' intended,,, I just like to promote
people
> being informed about what they are choosing..
>
> Bill