Groups sue Trump’s EPA over fast-track approval of toxic datacenter chemicals
Exposure to two compounds approved can result in ‘sudden death’ and range of other serious health risks, lawsuit warns
TL;DR
- The EPA approved two new datacenter chemicals despite acknowledging their potential to cause sudden death, cancer, neurological damage, and reproductive harm.
- A lawsuit claims the EPA violated the Toxic Substances Control Act by approving chemicals that present an "unreasonable risk" without adequate protective measures.
- The chemicals are described as photoacid generators and may be Pfas "forever chemicals," with much of the EPA's documentation redacted.
- The EPA conceded it lacks sufficient data to quantify the risks associated with these chemicals but still approved them for immediate use.
- Critics argue the EPA's approval process for these chemicals, possibly expedited under a Trump executive order, prioritizes computing capacity over public health and environmental safety.
- The semiconductor industry claims these chemicals are essential and alternatives are difficult to find, while concerns remain about their disposal and potential environmental impact.