Tidal wave of Pfas being launched to satisfy AI industry, campaigners warn
Big manufacturers planning to produce more of the forever chemicals to meet demand from datacentres
TL;DR
- Pfas manufacturers are planning to increase production, citing demand from the AI industry for datacentre cooling and semiconductor manufacturing.
- Critics argue that increased Pfas production poses a significant risk to human and planetary health due to their persistence in the environment and links to diseases.
- Companies like Daikin, Arkema, and Chemours are expanding their Pfas production capacity, with some explicitly mentioning datacentres and AI hardware as key drivers.
- Pfas are used in advanced datacentre cooling systems and are essential in numerous steps of semiconductor fabrication.
- The "forever chemicals" are also cited as a growth area for coatings and binders in lithium-ion batteries.
- While most major producers are expanding, some companies like Archroma are shifting to Pfas-free alternatives, and BASF plans to exit Pfas production by 2028.
- The extreme durability of Pfas due to strong carbon-fluorine bonds makes them useful but also virtually indestructible, leading to accumulation in the environment and the food chain.
- The accumulation of Pfas in the environment has raised concerns, with research linking them to various health problems, including cancer and developmental issues.