{
  "id": 7795477,
  "title": "Data Centers Are Causing a Huge Surge in Incredibly Toxic Chemicals Polluting the World",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/data-centers-are-causing-a-huge-surge-in-incredibly-toxic-chemicals",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T13:21:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Futurism",
    "slug": "futurism",
    "url": "https://futurism.com/science-energy/data-centers-surge-toxic-chemical-spill-pollution-pfas"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Data centers, the backbone of the AI-driven social media landscape, are causing a significant surge in the release of toxic chemicals into the environment. Beyond the air pollution and wastewater discharge, these facilities are also generating a growing tide of \"forever chemicals\" — artificial substances that never degrade naturally. The top ten global producers of these chemicals, known as polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, are planning to boost production due to the booming demand in data center construction. PFAS are used in cooling systems, AI chips, circuit boards, fire suppression systems, and even the coating on thousands of miles of connecting cables. Their widespread use is particularly concerning, as data centers operate continuously, leading to rapid breakdowns of components and constant replacements. When old components are discarded, PFAS often end up in the environment, increasing the risk of entering the food chain and causing a range of health issues. Anne-Sofie Bäckar, executive director of Sweden's chemical watchdog ChemSec, warned that without urgent government intervention, a new wave of forever chemicals will threaten public health. The environmental impact of data centers extends beyond their boundaries. Recently, nearly 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the Equinix Data Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, contaminating a tributary creek in the New Jersey Meadowlands. Ben Dziobek, Climate Revolution Action Network executive director, emphasized that data centers pose problems that transcend local jurisdictions, affecting pollution levels and increasing electricity costs for everyone.",
  "summary": "\"Data centers create problems that don't stop at municipal boundaries, whether it's pollution or straining the grid and driving up everyone's electric bills.\" The post Data Centers Are Causing a Huge Surge in Incredibly Toxic Chemicals Polluting the World appeared first on Futurism .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}