Advocates raise alarm over Pfas pollution from datacenters amid AI boom

The article raises concerns about the environmental impact of datacenters, particularly the potential for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) pollution. Datacenters are essential for the growing artificial intelligence industry, as they store and process vast amounts of digital data. However, the article suggests that the tech industry's use of PFAS gases at these facilities may contribute to the environmental burden of these centers, which are already known to have high electricity demands and water consumption. The article highlights that while datacenters' energy use and water usage have been under scrutiny, the issue of PFAS pollution is a new concern raised by public health advocates. PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment. The article suggests that the environmental impact of datacenters may be worse than previously thought, and calls for further investigation and mitigation efforts to address this potential source of PFAS contamination.