Major U.S. companies eliminate EGEs over the next three years. Some health officials continue to question whether the glycol ethers were really the culprit. Study also shows that respiratory symptoms and dermatitis are more common among chip production workers than other workers. Industry emits 1.27 million pounds of hazardous air pollutants, down by almost two-thirds from 1987. U.S. companies employ 250,000 workers.
Chips are essential to virtually all electronic products.
Thirty chipmaking employees settle lawsuit against Zilog in Nampa, Idaho. Former workers at IBM plant sue chemical makers alleging that they got cancer from chipmaking chemicals. Md. Technology employs lasers to clean chips, which would reduce the need for chemicals and water. 1998 First trial is scheduled in one of five lawsuits against Motorola and other entities responsible for contaminating underground water in Phoenix. Hundreds of plaintiffs allege their properties lost value or that they suffered cancer, neurological and respiratory disorders from being exposed to TCE in water, air or soil.