SAN JOSE, Calif., May 12 (UPI) -- The World Semiconductor Council declared in San Jose, Calif., Thursday it would work to cut back on the use of PFOS chemicals in chip manufacturing.
The industry group said it would eliminate PFOS (perfluoroctane sulfonate) in non-critical manufacturing processes and work to find substitute compounds for critical areas.
PFOS is considered by environmental regulators in Europe and North America to be a persistent toxin that binds to the body's proteins. Chip manufacturers use the material for anti-reflective coatings and photoresists.
The WSA also used Thursday's 10th anniversary meeting to call for lower tariffs on chip imports and stronger intellectual-property laws, and invited China to join the organization.
