Health and environmental effects document for photovoltaic energy systems - 1983
Health risks arising from the fabrication, installation, operation, and decommissioning of photovoltaic energy systems have been studied. Occupational risks from accidental injuries were quantified, and illness-related effects were examined. Although significant illness-related effects are not expected, potential chemical (e.g., phosphine) and physical (e.g., radio-frequency radiation) hazards found in the workplace merit careful consideration. Public health risks from pollutants (e.g., cadmium) emitted throughout the energy cycle and from physical hazards (i.e., electric shock and fire) associated with rooftop decentralized applications were reviewed. The risks from pollutants seem to be larger than the physical hazards considered, but they are highly uncertain. Risks to exposed individuals from electric shock and fire may be significant, but societal risks are probably small. Research needed to reduce uncertainties in these risk assessments includes examination of new materials and fabrication processes, measurements of public and occupational exposures to hazardous chemical and physical environments, and identification of mechanisms and probabilities of fire and electric shock due to photovoltaics applications.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- OSTI ID:
- 6804334
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-51676; ON: DE84017179
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
140400* -- Solar Energy-- Environmental Aspects
140600 -- Solar Energy-- Photovoltaic Power Systems
CADMIUM
DECOMMISSIONING
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC SHOCK
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
FIRE HAZARDS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INSTALLATION
METALS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
OPERATION
PHOSPHINES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
POWER SUPPLIES
PUBLIC HEALTH
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT