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R Chepesiuk

Publications and source records attributed to R Chepesiuk.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Y2K: the moment of truth.

It remains to be seen whether the world will move in time to fix the Y2K bug, or whether computers around the world will shut down when the clock strikes midnight on 31 December 1999. Y2K could have a serious impact on environmental facilities, particularly given the extent to which computer software and microchips are now involved in pollution control and environmental monitoring and protection systems.

Chronology as Topic↗

Where the chips fall: environmental health in the semiconductor industry.

Three recent lawsuits are focusing public attention on the environmental and occupational health effects of the world's largest and fastest growing manufacturing sector-the $150 billion semiconductor industry. The suits allege that exposure to toxic chemicals in semiconductor manufacturing plants led to adverse health effects such as miscarriage and cancer among workers. To manufacture computer components, the semiconductor industry uses large amounts of hazardous chemicals including hydrochloric acid, toxic metals and gases, and volatile solvents. Little is known about the long-term health consequences of exposure to chemicals by semiconductor workers. According to industry critics, the semiconductor industry also adversely impacts the environment, causing groundwater and air pollution and generating toxic waste as a by-product of the semiconductor manufacturing process. In contrast, the U.S. Bureau of Statistics shows the semiconductor industry as having a worker illness rate of about one-third of the average of all manufacturers, and advocates defend the industry, pointing to recent research collaborations and product replacement as proof that semiconductor manufacturers adequately protect both their employees and the environment.

Humans↗

Making house calls: using telecommunications to bring health care into the home.

According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, an estimated 22 million Americans used their computers to seek medical information in 1995, making health concerns the sixth most common reason for using the Internet in the United States. Market research firms estimate that the number of people going online for this purpose is growing by 70% annually. Developments in computer technology, the Internet, and wireless and satellite telecommunications have led to major innovations in the nature and delivery of health care that have broad implications for the way people will receive health information and treatment in the future, even allowing health care providers to interact through cyberspace with their patients and other caregivers.

Confidentiality↗