Semiconductor companies under pressure to release more on safety risks

[JACK AYLMER]

THERE’S A MASSIVE PUSH TO BUILD MORE SEMICONDUCTORS HERE IN THE U-S.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING SURE OF IT– INVESTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO NEW FACILITIES.

AND WHILE WE KNOW THEY’RE VITAL FOR MODERN LIFE, THERE ARE SERIOUS QUESTIONS OVER THE HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR CREATION. 

ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND LABOR UNIONS ARE DEMANDING MORE TRANSPARENCY WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHEMICALS GOING INTO AND COMING OUT OF THESE COMPUTER CHIP FACTORIES.

IN THE PAST CHIP FACTORIES HAVE CONTAINED ARSENIC, CHLOROFORM AND LEAD— THE PROCESS CAN DESTROY LAND AND LEAK INTO GROUNDWATER.

THE INDUSTRY CLAIMS IT’S MADE STRIDES SINCE THEN– WORKING TO LIMIT POLLUTION AND CHANGE THE CHEMICALS USED IN CHIP MANUFACTURING.

BUT TOXICOLOGISTS SAY THE SUBSTANCES USED CHANGE SO FAST IT’S HARD TO KNOW THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THE CHEMICALS ON-SITE IN TIME.

SOME OF THE TOXINS PREVIOUSLY USED HAVE BEEN LINKED TO CANCER AND MISCARRIAGES.

THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY HOPES TO QUELL THOSE CONCERNS– SAYING THEY’LL ENSURE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON SITE POSE NO SIGNIFICANT RISK TO NEARBY RESIDENTS OR WORKERS.

ASSESSMENTS FROM INTEL AND T-S-M-C, WHO PLAN TO BUILD FACILITIES IN IDAHO AND ARIZONA– SAY THEY’LL SEPARATE SO-CALLED FOREVER CHEMICALS FROM OTHER WASTE STREAMS AND USE OFF-SITE DISPOSAL FACILITIES.

WATCHDOG GROUPS SAY THERE’S STILL UNCERTAINTY OVER WHERE THOSE CHEMICALS WILL GO. AND ARE DEMANDING GREATER TRANSPARENCY. 

IN THE PAST FOREVER CHEMICALS HAVE LEAKED AT LANDFILL SITES AND LINGERED IN THE AIR. 

FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THESE PROJECTS DEPENDS ON THESE COMPANIES ADHERING TO STRICTER ENVIRONMENTAL RULES.

WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

AND YOU CAN TOO – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP. 

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M JACK AYLMER.