Biological impact of lead from halide perovskites reveals the risk of introducing a safe threshold

Regulations currently in force enable to claim that the lead content in perovskite solar cells is low enough to be safe, or no more dangerous, than other electronics also containing lead. However, the actual environmental impact of lead from perovskite is unknown. Here we show that the lead from perovskite leaking into the ground can enter plants, and consequently the food cycle, ten times more effectively than other lead contaminants already present as the result of the human activities. We further demonstrate that replacing lead with tin represents an environmentally-safer option. Our data suggest that we need to treat the lead from perovskite with exceptional care. In particular, we point out that the…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 21750110442
• FA
  Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University

  Awards: KXGH17010, xjq201813
• FU
  Fuzhou University