Over 200 workers and families of former workers are suing IBM,
alleging that exposure to toxic chemicals caused abnormally high
rates of illness and death at Big Blue, according to a report in
the New York Times.
The suits, according to the newspaper, relate to workers largely
employed in IBM's semiconductor and disk drive manufacturing
processes, both of which involve the use of chemicals.
The claimants say that they have evidence that shows that these
employees have an increased risk of breast cancer, brain tumours
and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. They also say that IBM was aware of the
risk, but did not tell its employees.
IBM flatly denied the claims, telling the New York Times they
had no scientific basis. In a work force as large as IBM's, it
argued, many workers will die from many different illnesses,
including cancer.
The first four cases are due to begin trial next month.
