By Abbas Nazil
Public health and environmental advocates are warning that datacenters run by major tech companies could be contributing to serious PFAS, or Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, pollution amid the global artificial intelligence boom.
Datacenters operated by Google, Microsoft, and Amazon require massive energy and cooling systems to process digital traffic, but growing evidence suggests their use of PFAS gases—also known as f-gases—could worsen climate and health impacts more than previously believed.
PFAS, or Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, are a class of nearly 16,000 chemicals known for their persistence in the environment and links to cancer, birth defects, high cholesterol, and immune suppression.
They are commonly used in cooling systems, electronic components, and semiconductor manufacturing.
Advocates say these facilities emit PFAS directly through leaks in gas-based cooling systems and indirectly through waste disposal and equipment upgrades.
Once released, the chemicals can contaminate water, air, and soil, or be transformed into compounds like trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which is increasingly found in human blood and the environment.
Jonathan Kalmuss-Katz of Earthjustice warned that PFAS use in datacenters is dangerously understudied, noting that the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is outpacing environmental safeguards.
The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced plans to fast-track reviews of new PFAS used in datacenter operations.
However, companies are not required to disclose how much of these chemicals they use or discharge.
Industry groups maintain that emissions are minimal, but researchers have found TFA and other PFAS byproducts to be more toxic than once believed.
Environmental activists like Avonna Starck of Clean Water Action argue that communities deserve transparency, accusing corporations of withholding critical information.
Meanwhile, companies like Chemours are expanding PFAS production to meet demand from datacenters, despite being accused of contaminating water and air in U.S. communities.
Critics warn that without stricter regulation, datacenters could become a major source of toxic chemical pollution, undermining global climate goals while fueling AI growth.
