On Friday, environmental and community groups sued the Donald Trump administration. They challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of two chemicals for semiconductor manufacturing despite health risks.
Health Risks Flagged, Names Redacted
The EPA’s consent orders, which were attached to the lawsuit, did not disclose the names of either chemical.
For the first chemical, the agency cited reproductive and developmental risks from exposure through drinking water and air. The EPA approved the chemical despite not determining the exact level of risk, citing “insufficient information,” according to the order.
For the second chemical, the EPA found it could pose health risks to the general public and reproductive risks to workers exposed through skin contact.
EPA did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.
Legal Challenge Cites Rushed Review
Earthjustice, a nonprofit public interest law organization, filed the suit on behalf of the Sierra Club and CHIPS Communities United.
In a statement released Friday, senior attorney Jonathan Kalmuss-Katz said the EPA is “rushing dangerous chemicals to market without the review or the protection that the law requires.”
The lawsuit comes as the Trump administration pushes to expand the U.S. AI industry, a major consumer of semiconductors.
In 2025, the EPA said it would expedite reviews of new chemicals for data centers and related infrastructure, including semiconductor manufacturing.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock
