I'd argue eating a battery would end in a similar fashion.

this is a link https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/seven-substanc... to a Health and Human Services 14th Report on Carcinogens, classifying cobalt as a carcinogen

Point being, "liquid cancer" is fear-mongering hyperbole -- lots of things are carcinogenic.

Not many of those things get blown into the air in massive amounts right where population density is highest though.

Precisely! If you need an exemplar, just look at lead... an element that was known for centuries to make people crazy, which was formerly a gasoline additive. And what about all those other additives and emissions? Then you start looking at bunker fuel. This stuff ain't good for you by any stretch.

I doubt you will last long enough.