The Intel Corporation manufactures 12 inch semiconductor wafers at its Rio Rancho New Mexico facility at 4100 Sara Road. This facility is located approximately 15 miles north of Albuquerque near commercial and residential areas of Rio Rancho and Corrales. Intel Corporation started Rio Rancho operations in 1980. Intel’s Rio Rancho facility is the largest private industrial employer in New Mexico and includes more than four million square feet of manufacturing and office space. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) estimates that approximately 12,011 people live within 1 mile of the site.

ATSDR was petitioned by a community group to investigate air emissions from Intel Corporation’s manufacturing plant in Rio Rancho, New Mexico in 2004. Residents living near the Intel facility have experienced symptoms that they believe are associated with the air emissions from the Intel facility. These symptoms include but are not limited to headache, cough, migraine, irritability, shortness of breath, seizures, throat irritation, eye irritation, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Community members also report smelling strong odors that are described as burnt coffee, acid, perfume, burnt wood and vinegar.

ATSDR is completing a Public Health Consultation that evaluates existing air sampling and monitoring data to evaluate whether public health concerns may be associated with the air emissions from the Intel facility. In addition, this health consultation will discuss Intel’s air emissions and associated air quality issues. ATSDR will post the health consultations on this Web site in 2009.