A semiconductor factory funded by the Biden administration is pouring chemicals linked to an increased risk of cancer into a river surrounded by homes.
People living nearby said they were “absolutely terrified” by the range of harmful chemicals leaking into the Winooski River in Vermont.
Semiconductors are the building blocks of computers, mobile phones and almost all modern electronics, and the government has been keen to support the industry amid concerns that too many of the chips are imported from Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and China.
The Telegraph has seen research showing the extent of emissions into a public waterway, sparking fears for the health of locals.
There have not been any illnesses reported that have been linked to the chemical leak.
Experts have raised alarm about the release of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are used in the semiconductor manufacturing process.
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David Millward
They are known as “forever chemicals” because they cannot be processed by the human body once they have been ingested. Human exposure to these the chemicals has been linked to cancer and other diseases and is also associated with fertility problems.
In February, the government announced it had given GlobalFoundries, the semiconductor manufacturing company, $1.5 billion in federal grants for its Fab 9 facility in Essex Junction, Vermont.
The town of nearly 11,000 people is nestled in the Green Mountains and the factory is the area’s largest private employer.
But it is pouring PFAS, which are used in the production process, into the river.
Some of the chemicals being released into the water have never previously been disclosed to the public, because the company is not required to report them.
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David Millward
The Telegraph has obtained a copy of a confidential survey conducted by researchers at Cornell University on behalf of GlobalFoundries in October 2023.
It found that the factory was releasing 18 PFAS chemicals into the Winooski River, and experts believe they could find their way into drinking water.
PFAS cannot be broken down by the human body, and has been linked to a number of health problems, including several cancers.
Under state law, GlobalFoundries is required to report several PFAS releases to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. The company has complied with the law by reporting 17 PFAS chemicals it has emitted.
Among the chemicals in the report, which GlobalFoundries is not required to disclose to the public, is GenX, a chemical used as a replacement for PFAS in industrial processes, which the Environmental Protection Agency has linked to liver, kidney and immune system problems, fertility issues and an association with cancer.
Safety levels
The report found that at the time samples were collected in 2022, the concentration of GenX in water emitted by the factory into the river was 88 parts per trillion.
The federal government has set a national limit for the quantity of GenX in drinking water at ten parts per trillion. Some PFAS, including other chemicals released by the GlobalFoundries plant, have a lower safe level of four parts per trillion.
There is no federal limit on the concentration of PFAS, including GenX, in rivers. Although the Winooski river is not used for drinking water, chemicals released into rivers and streams can still find their way into the human body.
People can consume PFAS that is dispersed in the air, or by eating fish that has absorbed the chemicals. The Winooski river is a popular fishing spot for salmon, rainbow trout and smallmouth bass.
Research has found that the chemicals build up in the human body over a lifetime, and can lead to an increased risk of health problems even if the quantity consumed regularly is very low.
Local residents in Essex Junction told The Telegraph they were concerned for their health after learning of PFAS in the river next to their homes, and they called on the US government to review the company’s funding.
Alison Bombard, who lives near the factory, said: “I’m absolutely terrified.”
“I think the general public should have been alerted if they were releasing chemicals into that waterway,” said Darren Haynes.
“Vermonters are very proud of their natural areas and if something like that was being released, it should have been brought to a town meeting so we could discuss it.”
Breana Fucile, another resident, said the government had a responsibility to tackle the problem.
“I think the [Biden] administration should stop funding them and have GlobalFoundries tell us what they are going to do to clean up the mess – if they can,” she said.
GlobalFoundries told The Telegraph it had disclosed its PFAS emissions and mitigation plans to the government before receiving federal funding, and ran “active PFAS reduction programs”.
“We remain committed to finding ways to reduce or eliminate its use,” a spokesman said.
“Production of all semiconductors, including those made by GlobalFoundries, requires PFAS.
“GlobalFoundries meets or exceeds all applicable regional, state, and federal laws and reporting requirements related to our manufacturing operations.”
Hayley Jones, the director of Slingshot, an environmental group, said: “Studies have shown that PFAS are linked to a number of different cancers, a number of different reproductive difficulties and birth defects.
“We are really worried about the public health impacts of the PFAS emissions both on the folks who live down the river in Winooski and Colchester and the folks on the factory floor.”
The regulation of PFAS in semiconductor manufacturing has become a topic of debate in Washington, as the federal government looks to step up domestic production.
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