The claim that heavy metals like lead and cadmium in solar panels leach into groundwater and pose serious health risks is not supported by scientific evidence. The materials used in solar panels, specifically cadmium telluride and lead, are safely contained within the panels and pose minimal environmental risk during normal use. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources has concluded that solar panels "pose little, if any, risk of chemical releases to the environment during normal use" because these materials are enclosed and do not mix with water or vaporize into the air.(2)Cadmium in solar panels is bound within cadmium telluride, which is 100 times less toxic than free cadmium and is non-volatile. Even under extreme conditions, such as high heat or fires, over 99.9% of the cadmium remains encapsulated in molten glass.(3) This ensures that cadmium does not pose a significant risk of environmental contamination.A 2023 study published in the Journal of Natural Resources and Development found no significant leaching of heavy metals, including lead and cadmium, from solar panels into surrounding soils. The study further indicated that the construction materials, not the panels, were the likely source of trace elements like selenium.(4)