โ Scribed by P.D. Moskowitz; L.D. Hamilton; S.C. Morris; K.M. Novak; T. Briggs; T. Owens; L. Ungers
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
Health risks of photovoltaic energy systems arise from mining, processing and refining of raw materials and from fabrication, installation, operation and disposal of devices used to convert sunlight into electrical energy. Using an accounting approach, public and occupational health risks of four different photovoltaic cell alternatives are estimated quantitatively by examining systematically all steps in representative energy cycles. Detailed estimates of occupational mortality and morbidity from physical and chemical hazards are given. Health risks in fabrication facilities are given special attention. Results suggest that most occupational mortality and morbidity are probably due to risks normally encountered in day-to<lay operation of any industrial operation. Exposures to chemicals could create health costs but these will probably be controlled. Estimates of impacts on the general public from byproducts emitted in the photovoltaic energy cycle are explored. Public health hazards from exposure to arsenic or cadmium emitted in the photovoltaic energy cycle appear to impose only minimal risk. Health hazards related to silicon exposure cannot be assessed quantitatively because of lack of toxicologic information.
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