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Environmental Research & Technology Division Environmental Sciences Department Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973 ABSTRACT This paper gives an overview
of environmental health and safety (EHS) issues related to photovoltaic (PV)
technologies, and strategies for reducing EHS risks. These strategies include layers of prevention and mitigation in
six sequential steps. The options for
prevention are related to safer technologies, processes, and materials, safer
use of materials, preventing accident-initiating events, preventing or
minimizing releases, and preventing human exposures. The mitigation options include secondary confinement, emergency
scrubbers, and adsorption units. As the
PV industry approaches these issues and mitigation strategies in a vigilant,
systematic way, the risk to the industry, the workers, and the public will
become minimal. |