Silicon Valley in California — where dozens of manufacturing facilities leaked tens of thousands of gallons of organic solvents and other toxic contaminants into the groundwater in the 1980s — is home to 29 Superfund sites, more than any other county in the U.S. Lead, mercury, and chromium are among the unpleasant ingredients that make up computers and their chips. Perhaps more troubling: By the time experts have figured out the health problems associated with current computer manufacturing, the technological landscape will likely have changed — and a whole new array of little-studied nasties may be in use. High-tech workers who manufacture circuit boards and computer hard drives may be especially at risk.
