Cadmium pollution of environment by the use of solar cells: a systemic review of the problem

Abstract

Use of solar cells contributes to ecologization of the energy sector of economy, but also requires taking into account various influences on environment. Particularly, many of them utilize cadmium (as cadmium telluride), which triggers concerns of possible pollution by this toxic heavy metal. This article summarizes and systematizes a significant amount of information, which allows evaluating such a pollution. Methodologically, this work is based on bibliographical survey and examination of the content of articles in the leading domestic and foreign editions on the considered problematic. It is established that the problem of cadmium pollution of environment by the use of solar cells has generally been formulated in the contemporary science, but as hypothetical to significant degree, and its treatment is distinguished by remarkable incompleteness. The authors show that in the light of the earlier conducted research, pollution of environment (also industrial) can take place together with cadmium extraction, production of solar cells, their use and utilization, the facts of which are known. The scale of this problem is currently difficult to establish, but its under-study itself creates risks of its large-scale appearance in the nearest future. Sometimes, scientists raise the question of replacing cadmium-bearing materials by those ecologically more “clean”. In this regard, a question is posed about whether such a replacement would diminish interest to correct utilization of already used cells, mass accumulation of which as waste makes pollution inevitable. The attention is also paid to the fact that even if solar energetic itself diminishes cadmium flux to environment via replacement of “traditional” sources of energy, changes in the geography of production of the latter is able to extend the appearance of the considered problem.