Report from former EPA officials warns of public health threat from AI data centers

A group representing more than 800 former employees of the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday sounded the alarm over the health consequences of data centers (Source: “A.I. Boom Poses Growing Public Health Threat, Former E.P.A. Officials Warn,” New York Times, Sept. 10).

In a report released Thursday, the nonprofit Environmental Protection Network examined pollution from power plants, gas turbines and diesel generators needed to meet data centers’ surging electricity demand. And it listed 30 federal actions taken by the Trump administration that it warned would increase pollution-related health risks as more data centers open across the country.

The report builds on modeling from academic researchers that projects that air pollution from data centers could contribute to roughly 600,000 asthma symptom cases, 1,300 premature deaths and more than $20 billion in annual public health costs by 2028. The former E.P.A. employees also note that these estimates do not account for the rollback of environmental regulations under the Trump administration, which could further increase emissions and health risks.