Former EPA Officials Warn Data Centers Cause Rising Asthma

Artificial intelligence companies are building a new generation of data centers that could expose millions of workers and nearby residents to dangerous chemicals, a warning issued by former Environmental Protection Agency officials last week. The report, released Thursday by the Environmental Protection Network, a group founded by ex‑EPA staff, claims that the rapid expansion of AI‑powered facilities is outpacing the agency’s ability to enforce existing health and safety standards.

The push to host massive server farms has accelerated in the last two years as demand for cloud computing and machine‑learning services grows. Companies are installing high‑density racks that run 24/7, drawing power from coal‑ and gas‑fired plants that emit volatile organic compounds, fine particulate matter, and other pollutants. In addition, many facilities use refrigerants like HFC‑134a, a potent greenhouse gas that can leak into the atmosphere and pose respiratory hazards. The EPA’s own data shows that, in 2023, data centers accounted for 1.5% of national industrial emissions, a figure that could double by 2025 if current trends continue.

According to the report, the Trump administration’s rollbacks of the Clean Air Act and the EPA’s “emissions reporting” rule have left many new sites without mandatory monitoring or mitigation plans. Former EPA director Dan Kildee, now a senior fellow at the Environmental Protection Network, said the agency’s budget cuts have reduced the number of inspectors by 30%, leaving 15,000 unregulated sites. The document cites a study from the University of Washington that linked proximity to large data centers with higher rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses in nearby communities. Workers in these facilities have also reported increased headaches, dizziness, and skin irritation, with some citing inadequate ventilation.

The report calls for immediate action to restore enforcement of the Clean Air Act, expand the EPA’s emissions inventory to include data‑center refrigerants, and require real‑time monitoring of air quality around new facilities. It also urges Congress to pass legislation that would fund a dedicated data‑center oversight program. If the warnings are ignored, the industry could face costly lawsuits and stricter regulations in the future, the authors warn. The findings arrive at a time when the Biden administration is proposing new climate rules that could tighten emissions standards for large IT operations, adding pressure on companies to adopt greener technologies and safer working conditions.