No, Solar Panels Do Not Emit Toxic Radiation

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In a recent memo calling for reckless endangerment charges for CEOs of Big Oil, consumer advocacy groups Public Citizen and Fair and Just Prosecution documented in detail how fossil fuel companies engage in widespread disinformation campaigns to promote bogus science and discredit climate science advocating for lower emissions. Through front groups like the American Petroleum Institute and the Global Climate Coalition, fossil fuel companies have spent millions to frame climate change as a theory and not a fact – despite having internal research demonstrating the opposite. The misinformation campaigns have had measurable, real-world impact and have helped diminish support for renewable energy projects across the country.

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In a recent report, researchers at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law of Columbia Law School reviewed literature published by Big Oil front groups and identified the most common misconceptions about renewable energy. One of the most common false claims is that solar panels produce electromagnetic fields that can be harmful to human health.

On social media sites like Facebook and YouTube, many users post stories and graphics stating that solar panels emit dangerous levels of electromagnetic radiation, or claim to have developed “solar sickness” from proximity to solar panels. In 2021, local opposition to a solar energy park project in San Diego rooted in misinformation prompted local officials to release a statement dispelling the false notion.

Electromagnetic fields present on solar farms constitute non-ionizing radiation, which can affect atoms but lacks the strength to ionize them or damage DNA. In a detailed analysis from North Carolina State University, researchers found that the electromagnetic fields generated at solar farms are similar in strength to those emitted by toaster ovens and other household appliances and pose no risk to humans.

Even standing next to a large inverter on a utility-scale solar farm, the level of exposure is up to about 1,050 milligauss – less magnetic strength than an electric can opener and well within accepted exposure limits.