Serious Public Health Crisis Caused by Solar Cell Waste in Malawi
TapTechNews August 20th news, the solar cell waste in Malawi, a landlocked country in southeastern Africa, is triggering a serious public health crisis. According to a new study from the University of Manchester, the country's informal lead-acid battery recycling activities have led to alarming lead pollution. The study found that an average of 3.5 to 4.7 kilograms of lead are released during the informal recycling process of a used solar cell, which is equivalent to more than 100 times the lethal dose for adults. This research result was recently published in the journal Applied Energy.
In sub-Saharan Africa where the power grid coverage is insufficient, solar off-grid systems have become an important power source for local residents. Global energy enterprises, including many Western countries such as the UK, strongly support this market. It is expected that by 2030, hundreds of millions of people will benefit from solar off-grid technology. Lead-acid batteries, as the cheapest and mature energy storage technology at present, are widely used in household-scale solar systems.
However, Malawi and other countries lack a formal waste management system, which makes the recycling of these batteries bring serious environmental and health risks. The researchers pointed out that street vendors in Malawi are using rudimentary tools, such as machetes and charcoal furnaces, to disassemble and smelt used batteries. This rough recycling method leads to a large amount of lead leaking into the environment, posing a great threat to the health of residents.
According to TapTechNews, lead is a strong neurotoxin, and even微量 exposure can cause permanent damage to children's brain development. UNICEF estimates that 800 million children in global low- and middle-income countries suffer from lead poisoning. And the addition of solar cell waste further exacerbates this problem.
The research team also found that the average lifespan of solar cells in Malawi is only one year, far lower than the expected lifespan, accelerating the spread of lead pollution. At the same time, the frequent replacement of batteries also increases carbon emissions, weakening the advantage of solar energy as a clean energy.
The researchers called on the government to take urgent actions to establish a complete waste management system and strengthen public education. They also suggested changing the investment method for solar energy enterprises to promote more responsible production and recycling.