- Lead: Commonly used in soldering the electronic components within the panels. Each standard solar panel contains about 14 grams of lead. It is toxic to human health and the environment at high levels, and efforts are underway to reduce its use significantly by 2026.
- Cadmium and Cadmium Telluride (CdTe): Cadmium is a heavy metal and cadmium telluride is a known carcinogen used specifically in thin-film solar panels (a specialized, less common type of solar panel). Although CdTe panels represent only about 2% of the market and are encapsulated to minimize environmental release, cadmium remains a toxic concern especially during panel production and disposal.
- Other Heavy Metals: Solar panels can also contain arsenic, selenium, copper, silver, and gallium, which are used in various semiconductor layers or components. These metals can be hazardous at certain concentrations and are classified as hazardous waste under regulations when leachable.
Notably, most residential and commercial solar panels in use today are primarily silicon-based, which contain no toxins, but still include trace amounts of these heavy metals mainly in solder and specialized components.
In summary, the principal toxic substances to be aware of in solar panels are lead (used in solder), cadmium (used in thin-film technologies), and other heavy metals like arsenic and selenium. Proper end-of-life management and recycling are critical to contain these toxic materials and prevent environmental contamination.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-main-toxic-materials-found-in-solar-panels/
