‘Tidal wave’ of PFAS being launched to satisfy AI industry, campaigners warn. Big manufacturers are planning to produce more of the forever chemicals to meet demand from data centers (Sep 2026) Article

[Michael Harrop]

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/14/pfas-firms-tidal-wave-forever-chemicals-ai-industry-demand-datacentres

Pfas companies are launching a “tidal wave” of forever chemicals production to meet demand from the AI industry, a campaign organisation has warned.

Despite alarm over the chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, a survey of the 10 biggest manufacturers found most had plans to increase production.

Many frame their investments around the “AI revolution”, because of the role Pfas play in semiconductor production and next-generation datacentre cooling systems.

But opponents warn that the chemicals, which never degrade in nature, are a ticking timebomb for human and planetary health. They say increased production risks undermining nascent moves to restrict Pfas in Europe, the UK and parts of the US.

“These companies’ expansion plans show that unless governments and regulators insist on a rapid phaseout, we will face a new tidal wave of forever chemicals,” said Anne-Sofie Bäckar, the executive director of ChemSec, the Swedish chemicals watchdog that carried out the research.

ChemSec’s survey found nearly all of the 10 biggest manufacturers of Pfas had plans to increase production, at sites in Europe, Asia and North America.

The boom in AI tech was leading demand, with Pfas used for “eco-friendly” datacentre cooling and in various stages of semiconductor manufacturing.

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[IsthmusSIBO]

Glad nobody gives a shit about the third world when things like this happen.

Only thing that will change this are global catastrophe, societal collapse, famine, war and disease. The people and the government prove their complacency time and time again. Experts are ignored and they themselves grow complacent and adhere to the institutions rules.

I just hope us chronically ill people either die fast, or recover before having to live in that wasteland if it ever happens.