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Green Tech Check: Are Organic Solar Cells Really Environmentally Friendly?

Jordan Keane in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover the hidden impacts of data source selection in assessing the chemical hazards of organic photovoltaics."

In a world racing towards sustainability, organic solar cells (OPVs) are often touted as the next big thing in renewable energy. These innovative devices promise a greener alternative to traditional silicon-based solar panels, but how environmentally friendly are they, really? The answer isn't as straightforward as you might think. Chemical hazard assessments (CHAs) are crucial for evaluating the true impact of these technologies, yet their reliability hinges on the data sources used.

A recent study highlighted the critical role that data source selection plays in determining the outcome of chemical hazard assessments for organic photovoltaics. These assessments aim to identify and mitigate potential risks associated with the chemicals used in OPV production. However, different databases and evaluation methods can lead to vastly different conclusions about the safety and sustainability of these materials.

This article breaks down the complexities of assessing the chemical hazards associated with organic solar cells, exploring how different data sources can skew results and what this means for the future of green technology. Are we truly moving towards sustainability, or are we just swapping one set of problems for another? Let's dive in.

The Data Dilemma: How Sources Shape the Story of Green Tech

Symbolic illustration of solar panels transforming into foliage, representing sustainable renewable energy.

The core challenge in accurately assessing the environmental impact of organic solar cells lies in the variability of available data. Chemical hazard assessments rely on comprehensive information about the substances involved, including their toxicity, environmental fate, and potential risks to human health. However, this information is often scattered across various databases, each with its own scope and limitations.

Researchers evaluating the chemical hazards of OPVs face a difficult choice: which data sources to trust? The study emphasizes that the selection of these sources can significantly alter the assessment's outcome. To illustrate this point, the study examined over 140 chemicals used in organic solar cell production, using seven different data sources. These sources included:

Chemical-oriented data sources: These databases provide a broad overview of chemical properties and hazards, but may not cover all specific traits of interest. Examples include the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling (GHS), GESTIS, and Sigma-Aldrich safety data sheets (SDSs).
Hazard-trait-oriented data sources: These sources focus on specific hazards, such as carcinogenicity or endocrine disruption, but may only list chemicals known to exhibit these traits. Examples include California Proposition 65 and the Endocrine Disruptor Exchange (TEDX).
Predictive data sources: These tools use structure-activity relationships to estimate toxicity, filling in data gaps but lacking experimental validation. Examples include EPI Suite™ and VEGA.

The research revealed that different data sources often provide conflicting information. For instance, one database might flag a chemical as highly toxic, while another indicates only moderate risk. This inconsistency can lead to drastically different conclusions about the overall environmental impact of organic solar cells. It also underscores a crucial point: relying on a single data source can paint an incomplete, or even misleading, picture.

Navigating the Green Maze: A Call for Transparency and Standardization

The journey to truly sustainable technology requires a commitment to transparent and standardized data. As this research underscores, the reliability of chemical hazard assessments is only as strong as the data sources they rely on. By embracing a multi-faceted approach—incorporating diverse data sources and predictive modeling—we can move closer to accurate evaluations of environmental impact. This not only fosters informed decision-making but also propels the development of genuinely green technologies that live up to their promise.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.10.062, Alternate LINK

Title: The Role Of Data Source Selection In Chemical Hazard Assessment: A Case Study On Organic Photovoltaics

Subject: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Journal: Journal of Hazardous Materials

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Haoyang He, Yadira Gutierrez, Thomas M. Young, Julie M. Schoenung

Published: 2019-03-01

Everything You Need To Know

Why are chemical hazard assessments so important in evaluating organic solar cells?

Chemical hazard assessments (CHAs) are critical because they evaluate the potential risks associated with the chemicals used in organic photovoltaic (OPV) production. These assessments aim to identify and mitigate hazards related to toxicity, environmental impact, and human health. The reliability of CHAs depends heavily on the data sources used, as different databases and evaluation methods can lead to varying conclusions about the safety and sustainability of OPV materials. Without robust CHAs, the promise of OPVs as a truly green technology remains uncertain.

What data sources were examined in the study, and how do they differ in their approach to assessing chemical hazards of organic photovoltaics?

The study examined over 140 chemicals used in organic solar cell production and used seven different data sources. These data sources included chemical-oriented data sources like the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling (GHS), GESTIS, and Sigma-Aldrich safety data sheets (SDSs); hazard-trait-oriented data sources like California Proposition 65 and the Endocrine Disruptor Exchange (TEDX); and predictive data sources like EPI Suite™ and VEGA. Each category offers different insights, revealing the complexities of evaluating OPV materials.

Why is there conflicting information between the different data sources used to assess the chemical hazards of organic solar cells?

The different data sources often provide conflicting information. For instance, one database might flag a chemical as highly toxic, while another indicates only moderate risk. This inconsistency can lead to drastically different conclusions about the overall environmental impact of organic solar cells. This discrepancy emphasizes that relying on a single data source can paint an incomplete, or even misleading, picture.

How can the reliability of chemical hazard assessments for organic photovoltaics be improved?

To improve the reliability of chemical hazard assessments for organic photovoltaics (OPVs), a multi-faceted approach is needed. This involves incorporating diverse data sources, including chemical-oriented, hazard-trait-oriented, and predictive data sources. Additionally, embracing transparent and standardized data collection and evaluation methods is essential. By combining various data sources and predictive modeling, we can move closer to accurate evaluations of environmental impact and ensure the development of genuinely green technologies.

What are the limitations of using predictive data sources like EPI Suite™ and VEGA in chemical hazard assessments?

Predictive data sources, such as EPI Suite™ and VEGA, estimate toxicity using structure-activity relationships. While they help fill in data gaps, they lack experimental validation. Relying solely on these sources can be problematic because their estimations may not accurately reflect real-world environmental and health impacts. Experimental validation is crucial to confirm the predictions made by these tools and ensure a comprehensive assessment of the chemical hazards associated with organic photovoltaics.