From: RDehaan237@aol.com
Date: Fri Nov 22 2002 - 07:52:11 EST
Hi Glenn,
I don't know if you have access to SCIENCE NEWS. If you do you may have read
the interesting article in the Nov. 16, 2002 number entitled "Hidden Costs:
It takes much stuff to make on tiny chip." Here are a couple of paragraphs:
"Despite their diminutive stature, the world's microchips levy a high toll on
the environment. From an unprecedented analysis, researchers have found the
creation of a single 2-gram chip requires at least 72 g of chemicals, 1.6
kilograms of fossil fuel, and 32 kg of water.
"Microchips' combination of small size and high value can leave the
impression that they offer large benefits with little environmental impact,
the scientists remark in an upcoming issue of *Environmental Science &
Technology*. It's a misleading notion, they argue.
.....
"The semiconductor industry uses hundreds of chemical to make chips, the
researchers report. They calculated that the 1.3 kg of fuel and chemicals go
into a 2-g chip's production and another 0.4 kg into its use. These figures
are conservative says [Eric] Williams (United Nations University in Tokyo).
"We think the real number is maybe twice that."
That article also points out that some of the chemicals used are toxic.
-------------
In the future shortage of oil, who will allocate the shrinking supplies to
the various competing demands? Will the microchip industry have higher
priority than agriculture or transportation or the military? Will there be
brutal competition for the dwindling commodity, or will someone appoint an
energy czar with authority to decide who gets how much?
Regards,
Bob
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