Chemical Hazards in the Workplace: Semiconductor Manufacturing

Companies have been ramping up production of semiconductors in the U.S., following the 2022 passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, which provides billions in new funding to boost domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors.

With electronic and tech companies accelerating homegrown chip production, the result has been an increase in chemical hazards in the workplace. This is because toxic chemicals — including PFAS, organic solvents and heavy metals — are commonly used in chip manufacturing.

Chip manufacturing processes and the associated chemical hazards in the workplace are linked to serious health consequences, including:

• Genetic damage leading to birth defects
• Cancer, thyroid and liver diseases, miscarriages and decreased fertility
• Damage to the lungs from airborne toxins

Hazardous Chemicals Used in Semiconductor Manufacturing

A variety of health risks are associated with hazardous chemicals used in semiconductor manufacturing — including reproductive harm to both men and women that lead to birth defects.

Common chemical hazards in chip manufacturing include:

• Solvents: Chemicals such as acetone, commonly used in chip production, have been associated with reproductive harm, including birth defects and male infertility.
• PFAS (“forever chemicals”): These substances persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body over time. Exposure has been linked to reproductive problems, several types of cancer (including liver and pancreatic), low birth weight, and other long-term health effects.
• Harmful metals: Semiconductor processes use metals such as cadmium, mercury, and arsenic. These substances have been associated with multiple cancers, immune and cardiovascular system damage, and harm to the nervous system. Arsenic exposure, in particular, has been linked to birth defects, low birth weight, and developmental delays.
• Acid gases: Semiconductor facilities may release acid gases and ammonia into the air, contributing to air pollution and respiratory problems, including lung damage.

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The Final Word on Hazardous Chemicals Used in Semiconductor Manufacturing

While legislative changes that make it easier for companies to manufacture chips in the U.S. might seem positive at first glance, it’s important to consider the dangers associated with chemical hazards inherent to chip production processes, such as birth defects and an increased risk of cancer.

History offers a clear warning. In the 1980s, decades of chip manufacturing in California’s Silicon Valley led to widespread contamination in Santa Clara County — the birthplace of microchip production. Hazardous chemicals used in semiconductor manufacturing leaked into local groundwater, and state health officials later connected a cluster of birth defects and miscarriages in a San Jose neighborhood to contamination from a nearby semiconductor plant.

As the nation works to strengthen domestic chip production, it is critical to ensure that worker safety and environmental protection remain priorities. The lessons of the past should guide the policies and practices shaping the industry’s future.

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Contact us to seek justice with the help of our experienced birth defect attorneys. We’ve battled corporate giants on behalf of individuals like you for decades. Our Dallas, Texas, birth defect law firm represents families dealing with birth defects. If you have a child with birth defects caused by toxic exposure, we can help.