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CHIPS Communities United
CHIPS Communities United
In the News

More domestic chip-making means more ‘forever chemicals’

“Our insatiable desire for electronic devices and American policymakers’ push for more domestic manufacturing of semiconductors relies on the industry’s access to large amounts of “forever chemicals.”... They’re long-lasting and resistant to heat, corrosion and moisture, making them popular for a variety of products that include nonstick pans, stain-resistant upholstery, firefighting foam — and semiconductor production. Studies, however, have linked PFAS to a variety of diseases, including cancers and reduced immune system response, as well as to contaminated groundwater, air and soil that can lead to a host of health problems.”
October 5, 2023

More In the News

July 17, 2026

Micron’s wastewater poses a real risk to our environment (Guest Opinion by Sustain CNY)

As residents, we are very concerned about both the cost and the environmental stakes: Will Micron, the plant’s sole user, cover the full cost, or will some fall on taxpayers? Will the county, and ultimately the taxpayers, be liable for contaminants which pass through the treatment plant and ultimately end up in Lake Ontario? And will the plant be redesigned so it does not release hazardous chemicals — including PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals — into our waterways?

May 5, 2026

Data Centers Have a PFAS Problem - Advocates raise alarm over Pfas pollution from datacenters amid AI boom

“There are over a thousand PFAS applications in the semiconductor supply chain,” says Judith Barish, coalition director of CHIPS Communities United, an NGO arguing for a more responsible semiconductor industry. “They use a lot of PFAS, and there are also few short-term alternatives for it. The US chemical industry is even citing semiconductor production as a reason not to regulate PFAS.”