Why is this important? -- The “other Silicon Valley”
Numerous organizations are creating indices of environmental deterioration, measuring economic versus environmental sustainability and analyzing current natural resources used to extrapolate future impact on our local environment without regard to how these environment changes affect particular populations, especially women and girls.

The use of hazardous chemicals in Silicon Valley’s technology industry is a major concern due to the potential exposures to workers, a majority who are women. Hundreds of chemicals are used in making semiconductors, some are known or suspected carcinogens. While any link between working conditions and adverse health problems is rejected by the industry, employees are beginning to take note of the medical problems and seeking resource through various avenues.

The resulting health hazards (e.g. breast cancer) against women and girls can often be prevented when knowledge about working environments is known and precautions taken.

Silicon Valley is not all about e-trade and cyber commerce. Many of the workers whose labor helps to sustain our booming economy are the working poor. They are often (but not always) immigrant workers; often (but not always) female heads of households; and often (though not always) engaged in physically challenging work for long hours, with too little compensation to afford the basics.

Without the “working poor’s labor, Silicon Valley would not be enjoying the prosperity it is today. Without improvements to the life of the working poor, including conditions of work, Silicon Valley’s health and well being will continue to deteriorate, with the burdens certain to be shared unequally.

What is the current status? How are we doing?
Over 50% of the county’s population is women and girls (1990 census data). Organic solvents have been a mainstay of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing in Silicon Valley for years. Discovery of their presence in drinking water as a result of toxics mis-management has finally resulted in a welcome degree of environmental vigilance. But we have yet to come to terms with the full impact on workers who have been exposed to these solvents and other toxins for years as they worked in Silicon Valley’s so-called clean industry.

Corporate mortality data reflect cancer as a very substantial cause of death among high-tech workers and chemically exposed workers.

Epidemiology studies repeatedly link long term exposure to organic solvents with high-rates of breast, brain and ovarian cancer.

Organic solvent exposure is a well-documented risk factor for miscarriages, certain birth defects and developmental delay in children.

In Silicon Valley numerous hazards exist for young women in occupations in the “zone of danger” resulting in exposure to reproductive hazards and cancers of reproductive systems (ovarian and breast cancers).

The rate of breast cancer in the Bay Area is the highest in the world.

More than 3000 facilities in Silicon Valley generate hazardous waste.

Manufactureers subject to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reported achieving a 55% reduction in toxic chemicals released between 1987-97 but about a 32% increase since 1994.

Santa Clara County ranks 10th among California’s 58 counties for total pollution reported under TRI.

Total tons of hazardous waste generated by Santa Clara County’s large quantity generators increased from 3.4 million tons in 1989 to 4.1 million tons in 1995, an 18% increase.

What are the barriers?
Levels of toxic exposures allowed in the workplace are much higher than allowed by EPA to the general public. Also most industrial chemicals lack any exposure “limits” at all. Lastly, even for chemicals with “allowable limits”[sic] the limits are set on the assumption the worker is exposed only to one chemical, when in reality most chemically exposed workers handle and/or are exposed to several chemicals at once.

Education and proactive involvement of doctors is minimal. There is often a failure to do a thorough medical history and ask about employment history, possible exposure to toxic environments, etc. The result is that nothing is written down to provide a basis for research and to identify possible contributing exposures.

No government agency is collecting data from doctors regarding knowledge of children living in familiies with the same types of birth defects, or possible environmental links.

State Birth Defects Registry: The State of California has been unable to convince the electronics industry to provide data that would allow the state to match parent employment information with reported birth defects of children.

For more info about the Women and Girls 2000 Conference contact 408-299-3800