Detecting Leakage

• It will be obvious, in most cases, when a battery has started leaking--there will be corrosive fluid on the battery's exterior and on the surfaces of the battery compartment. There also may be an acidic or metallic smell.
  
  

Dealing with Leaking Batteries

• A leaking battery is useless as well as mildly toxic. Remove and properly dispose of leaking batteries; they can be recycled and should not be added to regular garbage.
  
  

Cleaning

• Cleanse the surfaces contaminated by battery leakage with a baking soda and water solution. Take care not to get any of the leakage on your clothes or skin. After cleaning, wash your hands very thoroughly.
  
  

Additional Problems

• The interior electronics of the camera can be damaged by battery leakage. The problem may be solved by disassembly and cleaning, but this is very time-consuming and expensive. The bottom line is if the corrosion has reached the camera's circuitry, replacing the camera may be the only sensible option.
  
  

Preventing Damage

• If do not plan on using your camera for a significant length of time, remove and store the batteries separately. This also will preserve the life of the batteries.