Toxic Dangers Follow U.S. Push to Expand Chip Manufacturing

Birth Defects, Toxic Exposure

While efforts to bring semiconductor production back to the United States through the CHIPS and Science Act entail many benefits –– including boosting the economy and national security –– the move comes with real health and safety concerns.

Chip manufacturing requires the use of toxic chemicals that can harm both workers and residents living near chip manufacturing plants, as toxic waste is stored in underground tanks that can leak into groundwater.

Toxic chemicals from these plants have been linked to birth defects, miscarriages, and serious diseases. Given that the Building Chips in America Act exempts many federally funded chip manufacturing projects from earlier protections under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), there’s reason to be concerned. NEPA helps protect communities through assessments that determine the impact of projects on air and water quality as well as wildlife.

What makes Chip Manufacturing ‘Dirty’?

A variety of unsafe chemicals are common in chip production, including organic solvents like benzene, acid gases, harmful metals, and PFAS – this is why chip manufacturing can be “dirty” and why manufacturers’ ability to circumvent NEPA is problematic.

U.S. chip plants release thousands of pounds of chemical compounds into the environment each year, including acid gases and ammonia. They also produce large amounts of solid and liquid waste.

Underscoring the dangers associated with chip manufacturing, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality recently fined chip manufacturer Intel for failing to control emissions of acid gases at its chip production facility in Hillsboro. In addition, out of 15,000 tons of waste produced in only three months by an Intel plant in Chandler, Arizona, more than half was categorized as hazardous.

Toxic Chemicals Used in Chip Manufacturing 

The following chemicals are commonly used in chip production:

  • Organic solvents: These carbon-based substances are linked to reproductive hazards, and are also considered carcinogens and neurotoxins, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Acid gases: This family of harmful substances include nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur oxide, and other chemicals.
  • Hydrogen sulfide is highly toxic and can be deadly even at low concentrations. Symptoms of exposure include headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
  • Carbon dioxide is harmful when found in elevated concentrations. High levels can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, vision and hearing problems, and unconsciousness. Prolonged exposure can be lethal.
  • Nitrogen oxides can cause serious lung damage. Prolonged exposure to high levels can lead to respiratory problems and, in extreme cases, death.
  • PFAS: Often referred to as “forever chemicals,” per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) are a group of manufactured chemicals that break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment over time. PFAS chemicals are linked to several types of cancer, as well as decreased fertility, birth injuries, and developmental delays.

What are Employers’ Responsibilities to Protect Workers?

Employers have a responsibility to provide workers with a safe workplace under Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are required to provide employees with an environment free from recognized hazards, such as:

  • Exposure to toxic chemicals and infectious agents
  • Excessive noise levels
  • Mechanical dangers
  • Heat or cold stress
  • Conditions that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.

 

OSHA standards include:

  • Rules that prescribe actions employers must use to protect employees from hazards
  • Employers must classify potential chemical hazards and communicate information concerning hazards and appropriate protective measures to employees

How We Help Victims of Toxic Exposure

Our birth defect litigation attorneys understand the pain that families face when coping with life-altering birth defects—and the frustration of knowing they could have been prevented. Our team has over 40 years of combined experience in birth defects litigation in cases involving semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, pesticides, and energy production. We have the resources and experience to fight on behalf of our clients against corporations that put them in danger. Contact us to see how we can help you and your family receive justice for birth defects.