Groups sue Trump’s EPA over fast-track approval of toxic datacenter chemicals
Exposure to two compounds approved can result in ‘sudden death’ and range of other serious health risks, lawsuit warns The Trump administration has approved two new datacenter chemicals to which exposure can result in “sudden death” and a range of other serious health risks, like cancer, eye corrosion, neurological damage and reproductive harm, a new lawsuit warns. The two compounds approved by…
A lawsuit has been filed against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the fast-tracking of two toxic chemicals used in datacenter manufacturing. The compounds in question, which are also classified as Pfas "forever chemicals," can lead to "sudden death" and a range of serious health issues including cancer, neurological damage, and reproductive harm.
The EPA approved these chemicals for import and use without fully understanding the level at which they cause acute toxicity or other serious health effects. Jonathan Kalmuss-Katz, an attorney with Earthjustice, stated that the EPA's approval violates the Toxic Substances Control Act, which requires the agency to either prohibit or limit the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, or disposal of substances posing unreasonable risks.
The lawsuit specifically highlights the EPA's failure to protect public health, the lack of data on chemical risks, and the minimal restrictions placed on the chemicals' use. The chemicals are used in semiconductor production, where they are essential in a complex process involving hundreds of steps. While the EPA has imposed some restrictions, such as limiting the size of containers for imported chemicals, these measures are deemed insufficient to protect public health.
Critics argue that the chemicals' environmental persistence and potential health impacts mean stricter restrictions are needed.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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