Solar industry responsible for lead emissions in developing countries (lead batteries)

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-08/uota-sir083111.php

Contact: Whitney Holmes
[email protected]
865-974-5460
http://www.tennessee.edu/">University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Solar industry responsible for lead emissions in developing countries

Solar power is not all sunshine; it has a dark side—particularly in developing countries, according to a new study by a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, engineering professor

Solar power is not all sunshine. It has a dark side—particularly in developing countries, according to a new study by a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, engineering professor.

A study by Chris Cherry, assistant professor in civil and environmental engineering, found that solar power heavily reliant on lead batteries has the potential to release more than 2.4 million tons of lead pollution in China and India.

…

His study, co-authored with Perry Gottesfeld of Occupational Knowledge International (OK International), appears in the September issue of the journal Energy Policy.

…

[Kennah]

1. I call bullshit!

The problem isn't solar.

The problem is that China and India "have large amounts of lead leak into the environment from mining, smelting, battery manufacturing, and recycling."

It's NOT the solar panels or their manufacture that are the problem--it's the mining, smelting, battery manufacturing, and recycling operations.

How fucking stupid can some people get when lying in their article titles? It has the smell of Fox Boobs Network.

[kristopher]

2. I agree the link with solar is unnecessary.

But as far as I can tell the authors of the study are producing valid work. It's in a decent journal and the focus of the research by all authors is environmental contamination by lead. Their research is aimed at the problem as you've identified it: the lead mining industry, lead acid battery makers and the lack of oversight. They are pushing for stronger control in that area. A past study looked at lead acid, battery electric scooters.

I'd need to see the actual study and evaluate the assumptions used that link this to solar however, to make a final judgment.

[Kennah]

3. I totally agree that lead contamination is an issue to address in the U.S. and elsewhere

Even with core refunds for turning in dead SLA batteries, there are still jackasses who dump them in landfills.

This study may well be legit insofar as it identifies issues with lead, but I'm reminded of the bullshit Dust To Dust slam on Toyota Priuses over nickel mines turning the Greater Sudbury Area of Ontario into the surface of the moon.

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. I think the issue has to do with using lead storage batteries to store PV electricity for nighttime

Other battery chemistry would not be as dangerous.

The headline certainly seemed misleading (which is why I added the parentheses.)