Toxicity of improperly discarded photovoltaic panels

The exploitation of solar energy is considered one of the possible solutions to the increasing energy demand and for this reason the use of photovoltaic cells (PVC) has progressively increased in the last thirty years. First commercially available PVC have been installed in the early ’80; they are now at the end of their life and need to be dismissed, a costy procedure due to the potential toxicity of theircomponents. The purpose of this work was to assess the environmental risk associated with an incorrect disposal of PVC and, in particular, to verify if damaged panels release in water components harmful to the aquatic environment. For this purpose, fragments of PVC panels were kept in infusion in water for 30 days. The resulting solutions were analyzed to determine chemicals released and to asses toxicity on Daphnia magna, Artemia salina and sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus). Results demonstrate that the panels, if damaged, release different metals (especially antimonium, aluminum and nickel) that exert a significant toxicity on the three species examined. In particular in the two crustaceans PVC solution increase mortality and induces cytological damages in the naupliar eyes. In P. lividus, PVC solutions alter normal progression of embryo development, causing asynchrony and producing amorphous plutei. In conclusion, data obtained indicate that it is essential to set up programs for safe disposal of photovoltaic panels.