Chip manufacturing chemicals linked to harmful health effects

Semiconductor, Toxic Exposure

Increased demand for consumer electronics coupled with growing demand in other sectors is driving growth in the semiconductor industry—a trend that is expected to continue into the 2030s. However, semiconductor production involves the use of toxic chemicals, which has raised alarm bells among environmental groups and unions.

What Are Semiconductors?

Also known as chips, semiconductors can act as either a conductor or an insulator, and they are an essential component in electronic devices. Used in countless products, semiconductors are found in everything from smartphones and computers to appliances, medical equipment, electronic vehicles and advanced aircraft.

The Drive to Boost Chip Manufacturing in the U.S.

The semiconductor industry in the U.S. and around the globe has been rapidly expanding. An example of this is Intel’s construction of new semiconductor facilities in New Albany, Ohio: the $28 billion project is expected to begin operations in 2032 and will create thousands of jobs.

Market growth in semiconductor manufacturing is driven by continuous innovation to meet ever-changing industry demands. Companies invest in research and development to create new materials, end-uses, and technologies that enhance the performance and reliability of microprocessor chips.

The global semiconductor market is projected to grow 12.3% from 2025 to 2030.

Chemical Use in Chip Manufacturing

The production of chips involves the use of several chemicals. For example, the light-sensitive compound used to coat chips usually contains ethylene glycol ethers (EGEs), an organic solvent linked to severe liver and kidney damage in humans, among other health effects. Animal studies have also shown reduced fertility and birth defects linked to EGE exposure.

An article in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives identified 10 chemicals “of concern” used in the semiconductor industry that include known carcinogens and other substances tied to reproductive health problems.

According to one study, workers in a semiconductor factory are “likely to be exposed to carcinogens and reproductive [toxicants].” The study notes that health and safety issues in the semiconductor manufacturing industry started emerging in 2007 due to “the onset of cancers, including leukemia, in employees who work in semiconductor manufacturing factories in Korea.”

Another study links semiconductor production with reproductive risks, including “spontaneous abortion, congenital malformation, and reduced fertility.”

Lawsuits Linked to Chip Manufacturing

In some cases, workers at chip manufacturing plants who have suffered negative health consequences have filed lawsuits. IBM alone has faced 250 lawsuits filed by employees who developed cancer, suffered miscarriages, or whose children were born with birth defects, such as intellectual disabilities. In one case, a woman who worked at a semiconductor plant for Electronic Arrays—a chip manufacturer in the 1960s and 1970s—filed a lawsuit against her former employer after her son was born with microcephaly, a condition that affects intellectual development as a result of a smaller-than-normal head and brain at birth.

A coalition of union organizations and environmental groups called Chips Communities United has voiced its concern about the impact of semiconductor manufacturing on workers and nearby communities. According to environmental advocates, environmental reviews for new projects related to chip manufacturing lack transparency around the kinds of toxic substances factory workers might handle. Advocates also claim that plans to keep toxic waste like “forever chemicals” from leaching into the environment have been vague.

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Seek justice with the help of our experienced birth defects attorneys. Our birth defect litigation attorneys have represented people like you affected by birth defects caused by toxic exposure, aggressively fighting the corporate giants who failed to protect vulnerable workers. If you or a loved one was exposed to toxic chemicals while pregnant and now have a child who suffers from a life-altering birth defect like spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, or cerebral palsy, we can help.