Data Center Boom Expected to Increase Semiconductor Demand and PFAS Use, Report Says
By chasecodewell // 2026-09-22
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The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centers across the United States is drawing scrutiny over the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), according to industry and environmental statements [1]. PFAs, a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals known as "forever chemicals" because they do not readily break down in the environment, are used in cooling systems for servers and in the fabrication of advanced microchips, according to a ChemSec report cited by NaturalNews.com [1]. The debate is unfolding as nearly 1,800 new data center facilities are proposed or under construction nationwide [2]. Data centers require considerable electricity to run and rely on vast amounts of water for cooling; concerns that their construction could raise local energy costs or pose a risk to the water supply have driven multiple state and local actions [3]. Supporters of PFAS-based cooling say the technology can reduce water consumption, while critics warn of environmental persistence and health risks. Companies including Amazon, Apple, and Google have responded to questions about their use of the chemicals, while Oracle, Meta and Microsoft did not respond, The Hill reported [25]. The debate over PFAS in data centers remains unresolved as AI infrastructure expands, according to officials and advocates.

PFAS in Data Center Cooling Systems

The American Chemistry Council said some data centers are exploring liquid-based cooling with PFAS to improve efficiency and reduce water use, according to statements cited in reporting. Kyle Doudrick of the University of Notre Dame said many systems are closed-loop, but no closed system is perfect and chemicals likely leak over time. Amazon said it does not currently use liquid immersion cooling; Apple and Google said they do not use PFAS in cooling, according to company responses reported by The Hill [25]. The Data Center Coalition said virtually every industry contends with PFAS in its supply chain and that the industry works with regulators. PFAS are a group of thousands of manufactured chemicals widely used by various industries and commonly found in many household products, according to Children's Health Defense. One common characteristic of PFAS is that they persist in the environment and can accumulate in humans and animals, earning them the nickname "forever chemicals" [6]. Some PFAS have been linked to cancer, birth defects, liver disease, thyroid disease, decreased immunity, hormone disruption, and a range of other serious health problems [6]. The chemicals stay in the bloodstream for a lifetime, and they are not regulated, so municipalities are not required to test for them in their systems, according to Trends Journal [7].

Environmental and Health Concerns

Lenny Siegel of the Center for Public Environmental Oversight said PFAS will eventually make it into the environment and questioned long-term disposal. Kate Manz of the University of Michigan said she would feel concerned near a data center and cited trifluoroacetic acid formation. The European Food Safety Authority has expressed concerns about thyroid impacts of trifluoroacetic acid, according to the report cited by The Hill.

EPA Fast-Tracks Data Center Chemicals

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it would fast-track approval of chemicals for data center use; the agency said review risks are unchanged. The EPA said fewer than 10 chemicals have been fast-tracked, including one PFAS, and it is considering more PFAS approvals. Chemours defended Opteon 2P50, saying it can reduce cooling energy use by up to 90% and nearly eliminate water use. Environmental groups and Earthjustice opposed Opteon 2P50, saying it is persistent, hazardous and degrades into shorter-chain PFAS. The EPA's approach to regulating PFAS in wastewater has drawn criticism. The agency released the Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15, which aims to regulate wastewater pollution, including discharges of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, often referred to as "forever chemicals" [15]. However, the plan falls short in addressing these pollutants with the urgency they require, and the EPA's approach is likely to take years [15].

Semiconductor Manufacturing and PFAS

A June report from the Semiconductor Industry Association said leading AI data centers can each contain an estimated 45 million chips. Christopher Ober of Cornell University said more chip production will require more PFAS, though amounts per chip can be small. Ober said fluorinated materials are critical for anti-reflective coatings, photoacid generators and lithography and no alternative is currently available.

Outlook

The EPA continues to weigh additional PFAS approvals, and environmental activists say the agency should stop approving new PFAS. Industry representatives say they take compliance and accountability seriously and work with regulators. The debate over PFAS in data centers remains unresolved as AI infrastructure expands, according to officials and advocates.

References

  1. NaturalNews.com. "AI Data Center Expansion Drives Increased PFAS Production, ChemSec Report Says". September 17, 2026.
  2. Epoch Times. "Epoch Survey: Readers Weigh In on Data Center Development". September 12, 2026.
  3. Just The News. "Abbott turns up heat on data centers with water use directive". September 16, 2026.
  4. Epoch Times. "House Passes Bill to Ensure Data Centers Cover Their Own Energy Costs". September 17, 2026.
  5. Epoch Times. "Texas Targets Data Centers That Fail to Report Water Use". September 15, 2026.
  6. ChildrensHealthDefense.org. "EPA Documents Reveal Toxic PFAS Chemicals Use". 2021.
  7. Trends-Journal-2023-01-05.
  8. NaturalNews.com. "Study: Rainwater in the Great Lakes contaminated with dangerous levels of 'forever chemicals'". June 24, 2021.
  9. ChildrensHealthDefense.org. "Forever Chemicals May Interfere With Bone Dev".
  10. Mercola.com. "Forever Chemicals Linked to High Blood Pressure in Some Women". July 27, 2022.
  11. ChildrensHealthDefense.org. "Women Exposed to Forever Chemicals Face Increased Risk of Certain Cancers". September 19, 2023.
  12. NaturalNews.com. "Forever chemicals found to be significantly more toxic than previously thought". November 22, 2021.
  13. NaturalNews.com. "Research reveals forever chemicals may interfere with bone growth in children and adults". January 9, 2024.
  14. ChildrensHealthDefense.org. "'Forever Chemicals' May Interfere With Bone Development in Kids, Adults". December 11, 2023.
  15. NaturalNews.com. "CHEMICAL COVER-UP: EPA's plan to regulate wastewater pollution DOES NOT deal with forever chemicals". February 14, 2023.
  16. Trends-Journal-2020-02-06.
  17. Elsevier. "Toxicological evaluation of sodium perfluorohexanoate". Toxicology. 2009.
  18. PDFlib PLOP 2.0.0p6. "Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Environment: Terminology, Classification, and Origins". Journal of Environmental Sciences.
  19. penta. "Dietary Accumulation of Perfluorinated Acids in Juvenile Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)". Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 2003.
  20. NaturalNews.com. "Trump Doubles Down on Data Centers Despite Polls Showing Public Opposition". September 1, 2026.
  21. NaturalNews.com. "Data Center Moratoriums Quadruple to 374 as Local Opposition Mounts Ahead of Midterms, Wells Fargo Report Shows". September 11, 2026.
  22. 100 Percent Fed Up. "About 5,000 Gallons Of Diesel Fuel Spill From Data Center In Blue State". September 14, 2026.
  23. ZeroHedge. "Under-The-Radar Oklahoma Bitcoin Mining Site Condemned After Leaking 3 Million Gallons Of Water". September 5, 2026.
  24. NaturalNews.com. "U.S. Energy Department Announces $1.9 Billion Loan to Restart Duane Arnold Nuclear Plant". September 9, 2026.
  25. TheHill.com. "Data centers, drawing concerns over water and power, may have another surprise impact: Forever chemicals". September 18, 2026.
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