A report published by the chemical industry watchdog ChemSec states that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure is driving what it describes as a “tidal wave” of new production of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, to meet demand from data centers and semiconductor manufacturing.
PFAS, a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals known as “forever chemicals” because they do not readily break down in the environment, are used in cooling systems for servers and in the fabrication of advanced microchips, according to the report. The report states that most major manufacturers plan to expand production despite mounting regulatory restrictions and billions of dollars in contamination liabilities.
Separately, environmental groups have raised alarms about PFAS contamination detected in groundwater and soil near data center clusters in Virginia and herbicide manufacturing facilities in Louisiana, according to a May 12, 2026 report by NaturalNews [1]. CHIPS Communities United and the Sierra Club, represented by Earthjustice, filed a petition alleging that the Environmental Protection Agency permitted semiconductor chemicals to be used without adequately assessing risks to plant employees and surrounding communities [2].
PFAS Role in AI Data Centers and Semiconductors
Data centers typically rely on compressor-based cooling systems that use gases which may contain PFAS, or they submerge servers directly in PFAS-containing chemical fluids that absorb heat, according to the Sierra Club. The ChemSec report states that PFAS are also integral to semiconductor manufacturing for the advanced chips needed by large language models and serve as binders and separator coatings in lithium-ion batteries.
The scope of PFAS use extends beyond cooling and chips. A 2024 report from Texas Tech University found that there are few end-of-life guidelines for PFAS-containing battery waste, and that the bulk of it ends up in municipal landfills where it can accumulate locally, travel long distances, or leak into rivers and water supplies [3]. According to the Sierra Club, the same chemical properties that make PFAS effective in industrial applications also make them persistent environmental contaminants.
Environmental monitoring has detected PFAS at multiple locations across the United States. A 2024 investigation by Children’s Health Defense documented contamination near data center clusters in Virginia and herbicide plants in Louisiana, as well as cases such as Tom Kennedy, a Michigan resident whose drinking water was contaminated with PFAS from a former military base [4]. Separately, research has linked prenatal exposure to PFAS with elevated blood pressure risk in teenagers, according to reporting by Children’s Health Defense [5]. A study conducted by the University of Hawai’i and the University of Southern California found that adolescents with higher levels of PFAS in their blood face nearly triple the risk of developing a serious fatty liver disease compared to less-exposed peers [6].
Producers Expand PFAS Capacity Despite Restrictions
ChemSec’s survey of the 10 largest PFAS manufacturers found that nearly all plan to ramp up production in the United States, Europe and Asia, the report stated. Chemours is developing a fluorinated fluid called Opteon 2P50 for data center cooling; the company says it will “revolutionize” cooling by reducing energy consumption, according to the report.
Daikin plans to more than triple fluoropolymer production capacity by 2027, and other expanding companies include Bayer, AGC, Arkema, Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials, Solstice, 3M and Syensqo, according to ChemSec. Only BASF and Archroma are cutting back on PFAS production, the report stated.
The expansion is proceeding even as governments and courts continue to address widespread contamination from decades of previous PFAS use. From Virginia’s Data Center Alley to Montana’s freshwater streams, a new wave of environmental contamination is unfolding, driven by the explosive growth of data centers and the forever chemicals known as PFAS, according to reporting by NaturalNews [7]. The report states that PFAS manufacturers are explicitly framing their investments around “the AI revolution” and microchip fabrication.
Regulatory and Legal Costs Mount
The PFAS market is worth approximately $25 billion to $30 billion per year, while health and environmental costs in Europe alone are estimated at 440 billion euros by 2050, according to the report. Reuters reported that DuPont and Chemours agreed in 2017 to pay $670.7 million to settle about 3,550 personal-injury claims over PFOA contamination; Chemours has paid $2.4 billion in U.S. PFAS damages, the ChemSec report said.
In 2024, a federal court approved a settlement under which 3M committed up to $10.3 billion to public water systems, and the EPA established national drinking-water limits of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS. The Trump administration announced in 2025 it would retain those limits while reconsidering standards for other PFAS, and in 2026 the EPA proposed extending the compliance timeline and rescinding limits for PFHxS, PFNA, GenX and other mixtures.
The legal and regulatory pressure has not stopped the expansion. On January 15, 2026, prominent conservation groups filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to overturn the EPA’s approval of certain forever chemicals [8]. The complaint alleges violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act and says the EPA permitted the chemicals to be used without adequately assessing risks to plant employees and surrounding communities [2]. Congress amended TSCA in 2016 to shift the burden onto chemical manufacturers, requiring them to demonstrate new substances are unlikely to present unreasonable risk, but environmental groups argue the agency has failed to enforce that standard.
Community Groups Organize as Contamination Spreads
Community organizations and environmental advocates have filed legal challenges and public awareness campaigns to address PFAS contamination linked to the AI buildout. The Sierra Club and CHIPS Communities United argue that the EPA’s approval of semiconductor chemicals used in AI data centers violated the Toxic Substances Control Act by failing to assess risks to workers and surrounding communities [2].
Alliance for Natural Health USA has run campaigns aimed at federal action on PFAS and other environmental hazards affecting future generations, according to Rob Verkerk PhD [9]. Verkerk stated that the organization’s campaigns have impacted over 248 laws through blocking restrictive legislation or advocating for beneficial ones [9].
Public awareness of PFAS health risks has increased. Nearly all Americans are exposed to PFAS through air or drinking water, and the chemicals stay in the bloodstream for a lifetime, according to Trends Journal reporting [10]. Scott Faber, senior vice president of the Environmental Working Group, said there are nearly 2,000 public water supplies in the U.S. that have some level of PFOS and PFOA [10]. The chemicals are not regulated, so municipalities are not required to test for them in their systems [10]. PFAS can be found in the air or drinking water, and the chemicals stay in the bloodstream indefinitely, according to Trends Journal [10].
Conclusion
ChemSec warns that increased PFAS demand from AI and batteries signals that “the only effective method to end this toxic pollution crisis is to implement universal bans with strictly time-limited derogations,” according to the report. The report states that PFAS manufacturers are explicitly framing investments around “the AI revolution” and microchip fabrication, even as governments and courts continue to address widespread contamination from decades of previous use.
The environmental monitoring and legal actions indicate that the debate over PFAS production is intensifying. Water contamination near data centers and herbicide plants has prompted investigations by state and federal agencies, according to NaturalNews [1]. The Sierra Club and CHIPS Communities United lawsuit remains pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit [2]. As manufacturers expand capacity to meet AI-driven demand, the regulatory and legal landscape continues to evolve.
References
- NaturalNews.com. “AI Expansion Raises Alarm Over PFAS Pollution Near Data Centers Herbicide Facilities”. May 12, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. “Environmental Groups Sue EPA Over Approval of Semiconductor Chemicals Used in AI Data Centers”. August 18, 2026.
- Trends Journal. “Trends-Journal-2024-07-16”.
- NaturalNews.com. “Data centers, forever chemicals, and a poisoned future: The toxic alliance fueling a public health crisis”. May 6, 2026.
- Children’s Health Defense. “PFAS Exposure Before Birth Could Put Your Teen at Risk for High Blood Pressure, Study Finds”.
- NaturalNews.com. “Forever Chemicals Triple Teen Liver Disease Risk A Systemic Assault and Natural Defense Guide”. February 18, 2026.
- Lance D Johnson. “Data centers forever chemicals and a poisoned future The toxic alliance fueling a public health crisis”. NaturalNews.com. May 6, 2026.
- Morgan S. Verity. “How The EPA Betrays Public Health With Forever Chemical Approval”. NaturalNews.com. January 23, 2026.
- Rob Verkerk PhD. “Hoffman Verkerk Dialogue on How to Safeguard and Protect Natural Health”. ANH International. February 22, 2024.
- Trends Journal. “Trends-Journal-2023-01-05”.
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