AI and hyperscale data centers operate as industrial facilities that store and use large volumes of hazardous chemicals for cooling, water treatment, and backup power. These include diesel fuel, chemical coolants, refrigerants that break down into persistent PFAS compounds, and corrosion inhibitors containing heavy metals. Leaks, spills, generator testing, and wastewater discharge can release toxins into nearby air, soil, and waterways, creating risks for public health and the environment. Because many data centers face limited chemical disclosure and emergency planning requirements, communities are often left without clear information or protections when failures occur.
Key Facts
At a Glance:
- Data centers store large volumes of hazardous chemicals, including diesel fuel, ethylene glycol coolants, corrosion inhibitors, and water-treatment chemicals, making them comparable to industrial chemical sites (Move Past Plastic).
- Backup diesel generators run regularly, not just during outages, releasing toxic air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and diesel exhaust into nearby communities (Move Past Plastic).
- Cooling systems can leak or degrade into persistent pollutants, including PFAS compounds like trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which do not break down and can contaminate water supplies (Tom Perkins).
- Water-based cooling concentrates heavy metals and salts, increasing the toxicity of wastewater discharges and raising risks to rivers, groundwater, and aquatic life (Tom Perkins).
- Chemical spills and system failures are difficult to contain, especially when facilities lack strong emergency response requirements or public disclosure of on-site chemicals (Antea Group).
- Noise and vibration from industrial equipment, including crypto-mining facilities operating at up to 70 decibels, add another layer of environmental stress for nearby residents (Midwest Environmental Advocates, Sierra Club Wisconsin).
- Communities already facing pollution burdens are most at risk, as new data centers add to cumulative chemical exposure and environmental health impacts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
- Q. What kinds of chemicals are stored at AI and data centers?
A. Data centers store diesel fuel for backup generators, chemical coolants like ethylene glycol, refrigerants, corrosion inhibitors, and water-treatment chemicals, many of which are toxic or persistent in the environment.
- Q. Why are diesel generators a concern if they’re only for emergencies?
A. Backup generators are tested and run regularly, releasing diesel exhaust, particulate matter, and other air pollutants that can harm nearby residents even during normal operations.
- Q. Can cooling systems contaminate water supplies?
A. Yes. Cooling systems can leak chemicals or concentrate pollutants like heavy metals and salts, increasing the toxicity of wastewater released into rivers or groundwater.
- Q. What is PFAS and why does it matter for data centers?
A. Some data center refrigerants break down into PFAS compounds, such as trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which persist in the environment and are linked to long-term health risks.
- Q. Are communities informed about chemical risks at these facilities?
A. Often no. Many data centers operate with limited chemical disclosure requirements, leaving residents and emergency responders without clear information about on-site hazards.
- Q. What happens if there is a spill, fire, or system failure?
A. Chemical releases can spread quickly through air or water, and weak emergency planning can delay response, increasing risks to public health and the environment.
- Q. Who is most affected by these chemical hazards?
A. Communities already burdened by pollution, especially low-income and environmental justice communities, face the greatest risks from added chemical exposure.
Events:
Working Session on Gateway 1: Site Selection & Land Acquisition
Working Session on Gateway 2: Power & Utility Connections
Working Session on Gateway 3: Water Rights & Environmental Permits
Working Session on Gateway 6: Construction & Operational Permits
Resources/ Sources:
- Chemical Storage & Environmental Hazards
- Tom Perkins— Advocates Raise Alarm Over PFAS Pollution From Data Centers — chemical pollution concerns associated with PFAS used in data center systems.
- Antea Group — Top Environmental Findings from Data Center Audits — audit findings on chemical management and storage compliance.
- IAFC — Risks of Improper Storage of Hazardous Chemicals — general hazardous storage public health implications.
- CenterSquare Work Rules — internal guidance on hazardous material handling and storage.
- Umbrex — Safety Incidents & Chemical Reactions in Data Centers — examples of reactive chemical hazards.
- Atlenv — AI Data Center Safety & Chemical Exposure Risks — outline of chemical exposure pathways.
- Atlenv —AI Data Centers: Safety, Health Risks & Evaluation Standards
- arXiv — Leak Detection for Liquid Cooling in AI Data Centers — applicable to mitigating chemical leaks.
- arXiv — Quantifying the Public Health Impact of AI — environmental and health burden from data center emissions.
- Bad Data Centers- Chemicals
- Bad Data Centers- Environment
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Title V Air Permits
Explains how large industrial sources, including data centers, may be required to report and limit air pollution.
- Move Past Plastic: Data Center Toxins Infographic
Visual overview of chemicals used in data centers and their potential health impacts.
- Minnesota Legislature: Omnibus Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate Policy
Legislation addressing environmental oversight for large infrastructure projects, including data centers.
- Charlie Berens: Coming to a Town Near You
Instagram post highlighting how data centers impact local communities.
- Clean Water Action: Data Centers: A Threat to Minnesota’s Water
Fact sheet detailing water contamination risks from cooling systems and chemical discharge.
- Food & Water Watch: National Data Center Moratorium Now
Advocacy resource calling for pauses on new data centers until environmental impacts are addressed.
- Kristie Ellickson, Union of Concerned Scientists: Community Guide to Cumulative Impacts. Tool for understanding how multiple pollution sources compound health risks.
- New York State DEC: Environmental Justice Siting Law
Explains protections for communities disproportionately affected by industrial development.
- Alex de Vries-Gao: Carbon and Water Footprints of Data Centers
Examines how AI facilities intensify pollution and chemical use through energy and cooling demands.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Tools and Resources
Public tools for tracking pollution, permits, and environmental violations.
- NAACP: Resolution on Data Centers and Energy Demand
Highlights civil rights and environmental justice concerns tied to industrial expansion.
- Ganesh Hegde: Closed-Loop Cooling: Water Saver or Chemical Time Bomb?
Explains how closed-loop cooling can still create chemical concentration risks.
- Friends of the Earth Organization: AI Threats to Climate Change
Connects chemical use, pollution, and fossil fuel dependence in AI infrastructure.
- Midwest Environmental Advocates, Sierra Club Wisconsin: Hyperscale Data Centers Toolkit. Community action guide addressing chemical, water, and air pollution risks.
- RMI: Flaring Risk Map Webinar
Shows how data centers intersect with oil and gas pollution risks.