Environmental source book on the photovoltaics industry. Final report, February-July 1986

This report gives background information on the photovoltaics industry to help the U.S. EPA evaluate premanufacture notice (PMN) and significant new use regulation (SNUR) submittals from the industry. It also gives information for photovoltaics industry on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) compliance requirements. This industry uses a large diversity of toxic and hazardous chemicals. Attention is currently focused on such gases as silane, phosphine, arsine, diborane, and hydrogen selenide which may be used in large quantities and for which there is limited industrial experience. Most materials used by the industry are already listed in the TSCA Inventory List. Unlisted compounds are used as feedstocks or are the actual products themselves. Manufacturers using or producing unlisted materials must apply to the EPA for a PMN. Some materials (especially those defined to be acutely toxic) contained in the Inventory List may be used in larger quantity or in applications which differ from current industrial use; these are potential candidates for SNUR.