2 Chemicals Linked to Miscarriages

A study commissioned by IBM has found that two chemicals used in manufacturing semiconductor chips may significantly increase the risk of miscarriage, the New York Times reported in today’s editions.

The newspaper said that the computer maker had warned its workers, as well as other companies, of the potential chemical risk.

IBM’s warnings were based on a study that found 10 miscarriages among 30 pregnant workers at two IBM plants. Researchers said there was significant relationship between contact with the two chemicals and the miscarriages.

The two chemicals are diethylene glycol dimethl ether and ethylene glycol monethyl ether acetate, which are used as solvents in a portion of the chip-making processing that involves etching away some of the material deposited on a silicon wafer.

The study was conducted by health researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

The two chemicals are also used in the aerospace and printing industries, among others, and thousands of workers may have come in contact with them, the newspaper reported.