Toxicities of heavy metals, solvents, fluorine released with BESS and solar fires

Here is a summary of hazardous materials and potential health effects  released with battery fires in BESS systems and solar panels with the effects from exposures: 

Toxic metals refers  to a group of metals that have toxic effects on the body  that occur in our environment. They’re often in a higher levels and harmful concentrations in our food and drinking water due to contamination from  industrial use and pollution from solar panels and batteries of BESS systems.   Fires from solar panels or battery explosions of BESS systems ave been shown to release high levels of lead and other metals into the air via  the smoke which then spreads across wide areas.

There are 22 heavy metals that are considered toxic, including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium,  cesium, cobalt, lead, mercury,  and nickel. 

Cobalt, cadmium, mercry and lead have been show to accumulate in soil and contaminate the  air after explosions  and fires of solar panels and BESS systems. 
The Food and Drug Administration have  prioritized regulation of arsenic lead. mercury,  and cadmium due to the potential to cause harm during times of active brain development in the womb and early childhood specifically 

Cadmium expsoure  increases memory loss, impaired memory and learning , increased lung, prostate,  pancreatic, and total cancer risk, incrases cardiovascular mortality, renal damage, osteoporosis, bone loss, infertility with  impacts  on prenatal and neurocognitive disorders,  and hearing loss
Mercury expsoure is synergistically toxic with lead and cadmium exposure with significant reduction in dopamine levels which has been shown to affect motor and cognitive decline.

 Mercury exposure alone  can cause acute pneumonitis, tremors neurodegenerative disorders, irritability, depression, memory loss, and  kidney dysfunction.

Lead exposure has now be determined to have no safe level as new studies confrim  exposure lowers IQ and ADHD  in children,  hearing loss,  neurocognitive and neuromotor function decline,  depression, panic attacks, general anxiety, pregnancy associated hypertension, cataracts, gout, cardiovascular and cerberovascular disease, renal disease, Parkinson’s and dementia.

Cobalt  accumulates in liver, kidney, pancreas, and the  heart.  and have been associated with hypothyroidism, headaches, anxiety, peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, deafness, hand tremors and  reduced motor coordination

Aluminum  has a long half-life  elimination in the body of 10 to 15 years once absorbed .  It is  stored in the bones, liver, spleen, brain heart, and muscles after exposures. The highest amounts are stored in the bone and lung. it does enter the placenta and is found in the cord blood of babies.

Effects  from aluminum exposure include osteomalacia, premature  osteoporosis, bone, pain, and non-healing bone fractures, muscle weakness, myopathy, toxic encephalopathy, with alterations in mental status ,decreased heart function, anemia, and kidney disease.

FLUORINE GAS : Fluorine bonds are irreversible and fluorine exposure occurs in hydrogen fluoride gas released from Battery fires and solar panels that have fluorinated backsheets. Fluorine gas Penetrates deeply\, Causes delayed but severe tissue necrosis and Binds calcium → can cause systemic hypocalcemia.  If inhaled it can cause Severe airway irritation Pulmonary edema  Potential cardiac arrhythmias.  

 It accumulates in lungs, muscles, fat and blood.  It  interferes  specifically thyroid and reproductive hormones, fertility, fetal growth, immune system  and can be neurotoxic with  neuro- development delay in utero and in infants and associated with  cardiometabolic disease, obesity, and diabetes . 

PFAS PERFLUORINATED ALKYLATING SUBSTANCES also have fluorine bonds that are irreversible and used  in the foams for extinguishing  battery explosion  and solar panel fires : These substances accumulate in lungs, muscles, fat and blood.  They   interfere  specifically  with thyroid and reproductive hormones, fertility, fetal growth, the immune system  and can be neurotoxic with  neuro- development delay in utero and in infants and associated with  cardiometabolic disease, obesity, and diabetes . 

OTHER HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RELEASED WITH BESS AND SOLAR PANEL FIRES: 

• Carbon monoxide
• Organic solvents 
• Irritant aldehydes

Organic solvent exposure in air and water are toxic to the immune system and increase  potential for autoimmune disease after expsoure and toxic to the liver and kidneys.  They are  toxic to the bone marrow.   Acute exposure to solvents can result in loss of coordination, reduced speed of response, and a general feeling of drunkenness Long-term exposure can result in decreased learning and memory, reduced ability to concentrate, changes in personality, and even structural changes in the nervous system.  Organic solvent exposure is associated with  dementia, essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS  ( Louis Gehrig’s disease ) and hormone/  reproductive disruption.

 Study References:

LEAD: 

• Boucher O, Jacobson SW, Plusquellec P, Dewailly E, Ayotte P, Forget-Dubois N, Jacobson JL, Muckle G. Prenatal methylmercury, postnatal lead exposure, and evidence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder among Inuit children in Arctic Québec. Environ Health Perspect. 2012 Oct;120(10):1456-61. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1204976. Epub 2012 Sep 21. PMID: 23008274; PMCID: PMC3491943.  
•  Martínez-Lazcano JC, López-Quiroz A, Alcantar-Almaraz R, Montes S, Sánchez-Mendoza A, Alcaraz-Zubeldia M, Tristán-López LA, Sánchez-Hernández BE, Morales-Martínez A, Ríos C, Pérez-Severiano F. A Hypothesis of the Interaction of the Nitrergic and Serotonergic Systems in Aggressive Behavior Induced by Exposure to Lead. Front Behav Neurosci. 2018 Sep 3;12:202. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00202. PMID: 30233338; PMCID: PMC6129586.  •
• Naicker N, de Jager P, Naidoo S, Mathee A. Is There a Relationship between Lead Exposure and Aggressive Behavior in Shooters? Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Jul 6;15(7):1427. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15071427. PMID: 29986448; PMCID: PMC6068756.  
• Shargorodsky J, Curhan SG, Henderson E, Eavey R, Curhan GC. Heavy metals exposure and hearing loss in US adolescents. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2011 Dec;137(12):1183-9. doi: 10.1001/archoto.2011.202. PMID: 22183895.  
•  Bandeen-Roche K, Glass TA, Bolla KI, Todd AC, Schwartz BS. Cumulative lead dose and cognitive function in older adults. Epidemiology. 2009 Nov;20(6):831-9. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181b5f100. PMID: 19752734; PMCID: PMC3523304.  
•  Power MC, Korrick S, Tchetgen Tchetgen EJ, Nie LH, Grodstein F, Hu H, Weuve J, Schwartz J, Weisskopf MG. Lead exposure and rate of change in cognitive function in older women. Environ Res. 2014 Feb;129:69-75. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2013.12.010. Epub 2014 Jan 29. PMID: 24529005; PMCID: PMC3951744. 
• • Wieties K, Hammer RE, Jones-Youngblood S, Forman J. Peripheral tolerance in mice expressing a liverspecific class I molecule: inactivation/deletion of a T-cell subpopulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990 Sep;87(17):6604-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.87.17.6604. PMID: 2395864; PMCID: PMC54585. 
•  • Min KB, Lee KJ, Park JB, Min JY. Lead and cadmium levels and balance and vestibular dysfunction among adult participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004. Environ Health Perspect. 2012 Mar;120(3):413-7. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1103643. Epub 2012 Jan 3. PMID: 22214670; PMCID: PMC3295341. 
•  • Choi YH, Hu H, Mukherjee B, Miller J, Park SK. Environmental cadmium and lead exposures and hearing loss in U.S. adults: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999 to 2004. Environ Health Perspect. 2012 Nov;120(11):1544-50. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1104863. Epub 2012 Jul 31. PMID: 22851306; PMCID: PMC3556613.  
• • Bouchard MF, Bellinger DC, Weuve J, Matthews-Bellinger J, Gilman SE, Wright RO, Schwartz J, Weisskopf MG. Blood lead levels and major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder in US young adults. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2009 Dec;66(12):1313-9. doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.164. PMID: 19996036; PMCID: PMC2917196.  • 
• Yazbeck C, Thiebaugeorges O, Moreau T, Goua V, Debotte G, Sahuquillo J, Forhan A, Foliguet B, Magnin G, Slama R, Charles MA, Huel G. Maternal blood lead levels and the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension: the EDEN cohort study. Environ Health Perspect. 2009 Oct;117(10):1526-30. doi: 10.1289/ehp.0800488. Epub 2009 Jun 26. PMID: 20019901; PMCID: PMC2790505.  •
•  Menke A, Muntner P, Batuman V, Silbergeld EK, Guallar E. Blood lead below 0.48 micromol/L (10 microg/dL) and mortality among US adults. Circulation. 2006 Sep 26;114(13):1388-94. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.628321. Epub 2006 Sep 18. PMID: 16982939.  
• • Park SK, Mukherjee B, Xia X, Sparrow D, Weisskopf MG, Nie H, Hu H. Bone lead level prediction models and their application to examine the relationship of lead exposure and hypertension in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. J Occup Environ Med. 2009 Dec;51(12):1422-36. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181bf6c8d. PMID: 19952788; PMCID: PMC2939477.  
• • Eum KD, Nie LH, Schwartz J, Vokonas PS, Sparrow D, Hu H, Weisskopf MG. Prospective cohort study of lead exposure and electrocardiographic conduction disturbances in the Department of Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. Environ Health Perspect. 2011 Jul;119(7):940-4. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1003279. Epub 2011 Mar 17. PMID: 21414889; PMCID: PMC3223010.  •
•  Schafer JH, Glass TA, Bressler J, Todd AC, Schwartz BS. Blood lead is a predictor of homocysteine levels in a population-based study of older adults. Environ Health Perspect. 2005 Jan;113(1):31-5. doi: 10.1289/ehp.7369. PMID: 15626644; PMCID: PMC1253706.  
• • Krishnan E, Lingala B, Bhalla V. Low-level lead exposure and the prevalence of gout: an observational study. Ann Intern Med. 2012 Aug 21;157(4):233-41. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-157-4-201208210-00003. PMID: 22910934.  
• • Sommar JN, Svensson MK, Björ BM, Elmståhl SI, Hallmans G, Lundh T, Schön SM, Skerfving S, Bergdahl IA. End-stage renal disease and low level exposure to lead, cadmium and mercury; a population-based, prospective nested case-referent study in Sweden. Environ Health. 2013 Jan 23;12:9. doi: 10.1186/1476-069X12-9. PMID: 23343055; PMCID: PMC3566948.  •
•  Coon S, Stark A, Peterson E, Gloi A, Kortsha G, Pounds J, Chettle D, Gorell J. Whole-body lifetime occupational lead exposure and risk of Parkinson’s disease. Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Dec;114(12):1872-6. doi: 10.1289/ehp.9102. PMID: 17185278; PMCID: PMC1764163.  •
•  Weisskopf MG, Weuve J, Nie H, Saint-Hilaire MH, Sudarsky L, Simon DK, Hersh B, Schwartz J, Wright RO, Hu H. Association of cumulative lead exposure with Parkinson’s disease. Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Nov;118(11):1609-13. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1002339. PMID: 20807691; PMCID: PMC2974701. 
•  • Bakulski KM, Rozek LS, Dolinoy DC, Paulson HL, Hu H. Alzheimer’s disease and environmental exposure to lead: the epidemiologic evidence and potential role of epigenetics. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2012 Jun;9(5):563-73. doi: 10.2174/156720512800617991. PMID: 22272628; PMCID: PMC3567843. 
•  • Weuve J, Press DZ, Grodstein F, Wright RO, Hu H, Weisskopf MG. Cumulative exposure to lead and cognition in persons with Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord. 2013 Feb;28(2):176-82. doi: 10.1002/mds.25247. Epub 2012 Nov 9. PMID: 23143985; PMCID: PMC3581753.  
• • Ruckart PZ, Jones RL, Courtney JG, LeBlanc TT, Jackson W, Karwowski MP, Cheng PY, Allwood P, Svendsen ER, Breysse PN. Update of the Blood Lead Reference Value – United States, 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021 Oct 29;70(43):1509-1512. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7043a4. PMID: 34710078; PMCID: PMC8553025.  
• • Li L, Zhao J. Association of urinary and blood lead concentrations with all-cause mortality in US adults with chronic kidney disease: a prospective cohort study. Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 5;14(1):23230. doi: 10.1038/s41598-02473724-x. PMID: 39369036; PMCID: PMC11455948.   

MERCURY:

• Clarkson TW, Magos L, Myers GJ. The toxicology of mercury–current exposures and clinical manifestations. N Engl J Med. 2003 Oct 30;349(18):1731-7. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra022471. PMID: 14585942.  
• • Gallagher CM, Meliker JR. Mercury and thyroid autoantibodies in U.S. women, NHANES 2007-2008. Environ Int. 2012 Apr;40:39-43. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2011.11.014. Epub 2011 Dec 27. PMID: 22280926.  • 
• Park JD, Zheng W. Human exposure and health effects of inorganic and elemental mercury. J Prev Med Public Health. 2012 Nov;45(6):344-52. doi: 10.3961/jpmph.2012.45.6.344. Epub 2012 Nov 29. PMID: 23230464; PMCID: PMC3514464
• .  • Silbergeld EK, Silva IA, Nyland JF. Mercury and autoimmunity: implications for occupational and environmental health. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2005 Sep 1;207(2 Suppl):282-92. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2004.11.035. PMID: 16023690. 
•  • Houston MC. Role of mercury toxicity in hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2011 Aug;13(8):621-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-7176.2011.00489.x. Epub 2011 Jul 11. PMID: 21806773; PMCID: PMC8108748.  
• • Andreoli V, Sprovieri F. Genetic Aspects of Susceptibility to Mercury Toxicity: An Overview. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Jan 18;14(1):93. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14010093. PMID: 28106810; PMCID: PMC5295343.   
•  

LEAD, CADMIUM, MERCURY STUDY

Pyatha S, Kim H, Lee D, Kim K. Co-exposure to lead, mercury, and cadmium induces neurobehavioral impairments in mice by interfering with dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmission in the striatum. Front Public Health. 2023 Nov 7;11:1265864. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1265864. PMID: 38026429; PMCID: PMC10662100.

COBALT  • https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/

 • Tellez-Plaza M, Navas-Acien A, Menke A, Crainiceanu CM, Pastor-Barriuso R, Guallar E. Cadmium exposure and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the U.S. general population. Environ Health Perspect. 2012 Jul;120(7):1017-22. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1104352. Epub 2012 Apr 2. PMID: 22472185; PMCID: PMC3404657. 

 • Alexandersson R. Blood and urinary concentrations as estimators of cobalt exposure. Arch Environ Health. 1988 Jul-Aug;43(4):299-303. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1988.10545953. PMID: 3415357. 

 • Iyengar V, Woittiez J. Trace elements in human clinical specimens: evaluation of literature data to identify reference values. Clin Chem. 1988 Mar;34(3):474-81. PMID: 3280162. 

 • Catalani S, Leone R, Rizzetti MC, Padovani A, Apostoli P. The role of albumin in human toxicology of cobalt: contribution from a clinical case. ISRN Hematol. 2011;2011:690620. doi: 10.5402/2011/690620. Epub 2010 Oct 31. PMID: 22084701; PMCID: PMC3198613. 

 • Samar HY, Doyle M, Williams RB, Yamrozik JA, Bunker M, Biederman RWW, Shah MB. Novel Use of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Diagnosis of Cobalt Cardiomyopathy. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2015 Oct;8(10):1231-1232. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2014.12.016. Epub 2015 Mar 18. PMID: 25797125.

  • Chen RJ, Lee VR. Cobalt Toxicity. [Updated 2023 Jul 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587403/  

ALUMINUM;

• Gherardi RK, Coquet M, Cherin P, Belec L, Moretto P, Dreyfus PA, Pellissier JF, Chariot P, Authier FJ.
  Macrophagic myofasciitis lesions assess long-term persistence of vaccine-derived aluminium hydroxide in muscle. Brain. 2001 Sep;124(Pt g):1821-31. doi: 10.1093/brain/124.9.1821. PMID: 11522584.
• San Martin SP, Bauçà JM, Martinez-Morillo E. Determination of aluminum concentrations in biological specimens: application in the clinical laboratory. Adv Lab Med. 2022 Jun 22;3(2):153-166. doi: 10.1515/almed-2022-0056. PMID:I27361866; PMCID: PMC10197291.
• Krewski D, Yokel RA, Nieboer E et al. Human health risk assessment for aluminum, aluminum oxide and aluminum hydroxide.J Toxicol Envirn Hith B Crit Rey (2007)10:1-269.|
• Bassioni G, Mohammed FS, Zubaidy E et al. Risk assessment of using aluminum foil in food preparation. Int J Electrochem Sci
• (2012)7:4498-4519.
•  Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), strontium, fluoride half life in tissues: Lead: 20–30 years; Cd: 10–30 years leads to Bone resorption (weight loss, menopause, acidosis, immobilization, vitamin D deficiency

Fluorine and PFAS perfluorinated compounds:

Fenton SE, Ducatman A, Boobis A, DeWitt JC, Lau C, Ng C, Smith JS, Roberts SM. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Toxicity and Human Health Review: Current State of Knowledge and Strategies for Informing Future Research. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2021 Mar;40(3):606-630. doi: 10.1002/etc.4890. Epub 2020 Dec 7. PMID: 33017053; PMCID: PMC7906952.

Calvert L, Green MP, De Iuliis GN, Dun MD, Turner BD, Clarke BO, Eamens AL, Roman SD, Nixon B. Assessment of the Emerging Threat Posed by Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to Male Reproduction in Humans. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Mar 9;12:799043. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.799043. PMID: 35356147; PMCID: PMC8959433.

Genuis SJ, Birkholz D, Ralitsch M, Thibault N. Human detoxification of perfluorinated compounds. Public Health. 2010 Jul;124(7):367-75. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2010.03.002. Epub 2010 Jun 19. PMID: 20621793.

Ducatman A, Luster M, Fletcher T. Perfluoroalkyl substance excretion: Effects of organic anion-inhibiting and resin-binding drugs in a community setting. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2021 Jul;85:103650. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2021.103650. Epub 2021 Apr 2. PMID: 33819618.

Schwerin DL, Hatcher JD. Hydrofluoric Acid Burns. 2023 Jul 17. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan–. PMID: 28722859.

PFOAs/PFAS, certain PCB congeners, select organochlorines : half life in body : Months to years

Solvents :

Hurley RA, Taber KH. Occupational exposure to solvents: neuropsychiatric and imaging features. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2015 Winter;27(1):1-6. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.270101. PMID: 25716516. Dick FD.

Solvent neurotoxicity. Occup Environ Med. 2006 Mar;63(3):221-6, 179. doi: 10.1136/oem.2005.022400. PMID: 16497867; PMCID: PMC2078137.

Misirli H, Domaç FM, Somay G, Araal O, Ozer B, Adigüzel T. N-hexane induced polyneuropathy: a clinical and electrophysiological follow up. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol. 2008 Mar;48(2):103-8. PMID: 18435214.

Organic solvents (benzene, toluene, xylene, styrene, and chlorinated solvents) rapidly accumulate in adipose tissue during exposure due to their lipophilicity. PMIDs: 10718576, 424704, 3299685

Carbon Monoxide :

• Wang SL, Ma MM, Lv GW, Zhang M, Du YS, Zhang SL, Feng SY, Li Y, Zhang YY. Predictive Value of Gray-Matter-White-Matter Ratio on Brain Computed Tomography for Delayed Encephalopathy after Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Biomed Res Int. 2021 May 31;2021:5511290. doi: 10.1155/2021/5511290. PMID: 34195262; PMCID: PMC8184340.
• Al-Matrouk A, Al-Hemoud A, Al-Hasan M, Alabouh Y, Dashti A, Bojbarah H. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Kuwait: A Five-Year, Retrospective, Epidemiological Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 22;18(16):8854. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18168854. PMID: 34444603; PMCID: PMC8394128.
• Wong CS, Lin YC, Sung LC, Chen TT, Ma HP, Hsu YH, Tsai SH, Lin YF, Wu MY. Increased long-term risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with carbon monoxide poisoning: A population-based study in Taiwan. PLoS One. 2017 Apr 25;12(4):e0176465. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176465. Erratum in: PLoS One. 2019 Apr 18;14(4):e0215878. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215878. PMID: 28441428; PMCID: PMC5404866.