Taiwan is the largest producer of the CD-ROMs and light emitting diodes (LEDs) with integrated circuit (IC) products.
Semiconductor production increased 54% in Taiwan from 1993 to 2000.
Over 30,000 employee working in 350 companies in Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park (HSIP) which manufactured the semiconductor products.
Because workers in the semiconductor industry are potentially exposed to a variety of heavy metals, their health may be at risk.