High Tech's Human Health Costs

Recent articles about the health impacts of the semiconductor industry on human health have focused much needed attention on this issue, not only in the United States, but in Scotland and Asia. (March 2002)

• Epidemiological Study from Scotland. This report from the Health Safety Executive (Scotland's equivalent to the U.S. OSHA) documented increased rates of cancer among semiconductor workers at National Semiconductor's plant in Greenock, Scotland. (November 2002)

• Is Chip Industry Really Ready to Confront Health Issue?, Henry Norr, San Francisco Chronicle March 25, 2002

• Chip-equipment workers face harmful chemicals, report says, by Matthew Yi, San Francisco Chronicle, March 22, 2002

• SIA's Scientific Advisory Panel recommends health study, March 22, 2002

• Chip makers must do toxic chemical studies, not just consider them, Opinion in San Jose Mercury News, March 21, 2002

• Semiconductor Industry Health Problems Continue to Mount, SVTC Press Release March 20, 2002

• Chip industry to consider health study/Industry panel to look into review of effect of chemicals on workers Henry Norr, Chronicle Staff Writer (March 2002)

• Chip makers mull studying cancer risk for industry workers CRITICS SAY ATTITUDE SHIFT TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE, By Julie Sevrens Lyons Mercury News, March 20, 2002

• Chips a risky business, by Henry Norr, San Francisco Chronicle, March 18, 2002

• Workers take employers to court over birth defects, USA Today, February 26, 2002

• Reproductive Hazards for Women in the Workplace,, USA Today, 2/26/2002

• Clean Room's Dirty Secrets, by Susan Stranahan, Mother Jones, March-April 2002

• Letter to George Scalise, SIA President, February 19, 2002

• Call for Action on Semiconductor Workers Health
  Abstract: Many known carcinogens are used in the manufacture of semiconductor chips, and some very worrisome findings have been reported; yet no broad epidemiological study has been conducted to define possible risks. The American semiconductor industry has not been supportive of efforts proposed by researchers, the health issues in microelectronics have not been studied in Japan, and European countries have paid little attention to the issues of occupational health in the workforce of this growing industry. Many of the older technologies are exported to newly industrialized countries as newer technologies are installed in the more highly developed industries of Japan, the United States, and European countries. Thus there is particular concern about the many workers, mostly in countries that are still industrializing, who have inherited jobs that use chemicals, technologies, and equipment that are no longer in use in developed countries.

  The industry is now quite large, with more than a million workers worldwide, so that any increase in the risk of occupation-related health problems should be a matter of broad and deep public health concern.
  Click here for a PDF file of the full Call to Act

• Silicon Shame, The Clean Room Paradox: The clean industry may be deadly for high-tech, workers Elandar Magazine, Fall/Winter 2001

• Concerns about cancer at National Semiconductor UK (Outline information on proposed protocol, Feb, 2002, HSE)

• Cancers among current and former workers at National Semiconductor United Kingdom (Results of an investigation from Health and Safety Executive (HSE).) (PDF file)

• For more information about the cancer cluster at National Semiconductor United Kingdom, and other worker health articles.