| Other author/creator | Ungers, Les. |
| Other author/creator | Briggs, T. M. |
| Other author/creator | Pedco Environmental, inc. |
| Other author/creator | National Center for Analysis of Energy Systems. Biomedical and Environmental Assessment Division. |
| Other author/creator | Brookhaven National Laboratory. |
| Other author/creator | United States. Department of Energy. |
| Summary |
The purpose of this study is to estimate both quantitatively and qualitatively, the worker and societal risks attributable to four photovoltaic cell (solar cell) production processes. Quantitative risk values were determined by use of statistics from the California semiconductor industry. The qualitative risk assessment was performed using a variety of both governmental and private sources of data. The occupational health statistics derived from the semiconductor industry were used to predict injury and fatality levels associated with photovoltaic cell manufacturing. The use of these statistics to characterize the two silicon processes described herein is defensible from the standpoint that many of the same process steps and materials are used in both the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries. These health statistics are less applicable to the gallium arsenide and cadmium sulfide manufacturing processes, primarily because of differences in the materials utilized. Although such differences tend to discourage any absolute comparisons among the four photovoltaic cell production processes, certain relative comparisons are warranted. To facilitate a risk comparison of the four processes, the number and severity of process-related chemical hazards were assessed. This qualitative hazard assessment addresses both the relative toxicity and the exposure potential of substances in the workplace. In addition to the worker-related hazards, estimates of process-related emissions and wastes are also provided. |
| General note | "Report date August 1980." |
| General note | "Report no. BNL 51324." |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (p. 257-261). |
| Govt. docs number |
E 1.28:BNL 51324 |
