Andy Mae Hardin, communications intern at the Environment and Energy Institute (EESI), talks about data center issues that contribute to PFAS contamination.
As the use of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to increase in the United States and around the world, data centers have simultaneously expanded and proliferated to accommodate AI’s massive workload demands. These data centers host tens of thousands of servers that operate 24/7 to keep virtual networks, cloud storage, and computing running. These servers require cooling systems, semiconductors, and fire extinguishing agents, all of which are sources of PFAS chemicals.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, form a group of more than 15,000 synthetic chemicals that are best known for their use in non-stick, water and oil resistant, and fire suppression products. The chemical structure that lends itself to such applications, the carbon-fluorine bond, is the strongest known chemical bond, making it difficult to break down in the environment, a property that has given PFAS the nickname “forever chemicals.” These eternal chemicals are present in our air, soil, drinking water, and throughout the food chain.
Because PFAS are durable, they accumulate in both the environment and the body over time, posing significant concerns for long-term human and ecosystem health. Once these permanent chemicals enter the body, they accumulate in human tissues rather than being metabolized within the body like other pollutants. This bioconcentration has particularly toxic effects on the liver, blood, and kidneys. Researchers have found that PFAS can affect fetal growth, organ development, reproductive health, and other biological processes, and are associated with high rates of cancer. Research shows that most Americans have some level of PFAS in their blood.
Data centers and PFAS
The potential negative impact of data center expansion on carbon emissions, water usage, and electricity bills is relatively well documented. However, less is known about the potential for direct and indirect PFAS contamination.
Data centers primarily use PFAS to cool servers and suppress fires. Direct PFAS contamination from data centers is difficult to confirm and is likely to be limited because cooling systems typically operate as closed loops. However, the manufacturing companies that make the PFAS materials used in data centers have historically emitted PFAS, negatively impacting communities and ecosystems near their facilities. Chemours is one of the world’s largest PFAS manufacturers and one of the largest suppliers of PFAS materials for data center coolants and semiconductor manufacturing (semiconductors are used to make microchips that are deployed in large numbers in data centers). The company aims to rapidly expand its distribution to accommodate the growth of data centers across the country. This may affect the environment. In North Carolina, more than 7,000 drinking water wells have been contaminated by airborne PFAS emissions from Chemours operations, researchers say.
Another concern is that the continued development of faster microchips is generating large amounts of electronic waste from data centers. Discarded microchips and other electronic devices often end up in landfills, where chemicals such as PFAS can be released into the environment. Public health and environmental health measures are required to ensure that the disposal of these hazardous chemicals does not impact the surrounding environment.
cooling technology
Data center servers generate large amounts of heat during operation. Coolant helps prevent equipment from overheating and malfunctioning. Historically, water has been the go-to coolant. However, with 45% of data centers located in water-stressed regions, carriers are increasingly turning to alternative cooling solutions. Two-phase immersion cooling is becoming particularly popular because it is cost-effective and energy-efficient. However, this technology uses carbon and fluorine, which are components of several types of PFAS. Additionally, these specific PFAS break down to trifluoroacetic acid. Trifluoroacetic acid is a toxic chemical associated with reproductive health risks.
firefighting
Between the high heat radiated by servers and the large amount of electrical equipment inside them, data centers are environments with plenty of fire hazards. An analysis of data center fires since 2021 has identified causes such as semiconductor lithium-ion battery failure, water damage to electrical equipment, and other equipment failures. To reduce risk, data centers require specialized fire suppression systems. Clean agent fire suppression systems are typically used over water-based systems because of their non-conductive, residue-free properties, but water-based systems can cause damage to servers. FM-200 and Novec 1230 are common fire extinguishing cleaning agents, and scientists classify both as PFAS.
In 2022, US-based manufacturing conglomerate 3M announced that it would stop producing PFAS, including Novec 1230, by the end of 2025 (the company has since confirmed that it has ended production of all PFAS). The shift to alternative fire suppression solutions by major industry leaders could signal that the entire industry is pivoting toward PFAS-free options.
Addressing ubiquitous PFAS is a challenge
Matt Dunn, PFAS scientist at Tetra Tech, says PFAS regulations represent a unique struggle because the chemicals are so widespread. Since PFAS are found in everyday products used by all Americans, from food to bath products, the question is: Where do we draw the line? “Do you go after the user or the manufacturer?” Dan asked. “And it’s really important to understand the differences there.”
Many emerging technologies hold promise in destroying PFAS, but are energy-intensive and very expensive. This cost gives rise to an ongoing debate about who should bear the cost of potential solutions.
federal action
Because PFAS contamination is ubiquitous, it is probably best addressed at the national level.
However, as of 2026, there is no direct and comprehensive means of regulating PFAS at the federal level. Existing signature laws such as the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, and the Toxic Substances Control Act all provide opportunities to address PFAS contaminants at various stages and to varying degrees.
Recently, Congress has shown interest in addressing PFAS contamination through legislative hearings, legislative proposals, and funding appropriations. The 117th Congress designated $1 billion in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and other programs to address PFAS in wastewater under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58). The current 119th Congress is proposing bipartisan legislation such as the PFAS Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2025 (HR6667), which would extend the authorization of PFAS research and development spending under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the PFAS Clean Water Standards Act of 2025 (HR6668), which would establish standards and limits for PFAS emissions under the Clean Water Act. Both frameworks can be applied to PFAS contamination from data centers.
However, the Trump administration has placed emphasis on deregulation. In May 2025, the EPA announced a proposal to extend the compliance deadline for implementing PFAS standards in drinking water to 2031. In September 2025, the EPA announced plans to speed up the review process for chemicals used in data centers, with the goal of making the United States the “AI Capital of the World.” In line with this effort, President Trump has issued an executive order directing the EPA, Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, and Department of Commerce to expedite the respective permitting processes for data center materials and infrastructure, including refrigerants, semiconductors, and fire extinguishing agents.
Northern states take the lead
In 2021, Maine became the first state to phase out products containing PFAS through the Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Prevention Act (Public Law 2021, c. 477). Maine has banned the sale of PFAS products in many industries, effective from 2026 to 2040. Refrigerants containing PFAS will be banned starting in 2040, but semiconductors and fire extinguishers will not be affected by the law.
Minnesota’s Amara Law (Minnesota Statutes § 116.943) requires the state’s Pollution Control Agency to regulate intentionally added PFAS and set standards for PFAS reporting in 2026. As of January 1, 2025, Minnesota prohibits the sale and distribution of 11 categories of industrial products containing intentionally added PFAS. By 2032, the state will require a complete ban on the sale of products containing PFAS chemicals, except in unavoidable circumstances.
About the author
Andy Mae Haydin is currently a senior at George Mason University in Virginia, studying environmental science and business. This fall, she will attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., to earn a Master of Science degree in Climate, Environment, and Health. Andy is a Spring Communications Intern at the Institute for Environmental and Energy Research, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing science-based solutions to climate change, energy, and environmental issues.
This article will be published in an upcoming PFAS Special Focus Publication in April.
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