Data Centers
Health & Environmental Impacts
AI Data Center Health Impacts
Free Webinar and Resources
A powerful presentation and discussion on the extensive threats to our health and environment from the planned rapid expansion of data centers throughout our country. It is also a call to action to help advocate for stronger local, state and federal regulations and guardrails to protect our local communities and wildlife.
- Learn about the health and environmental impacts of data centers on local communities from leading expert, Theodora Scarato, Director of Wireless and EMF Programs at fEnvironmental Health Sciences.
- As data centers expand rapidly across the country, learn about the potential health implications your patient population could experience if one is built in your community.
- Air pollution from diesel generators and expanded energy production needed to support data center operations.
- Water pollution from the discharge of toxic water used in cooling systems, which includes toxic metals, PFAS, refrigerants, and more..
- Increased production and use of PFAS for chip production and some cooling systems, which increases PFAS exposure via both air and water pollution.
- Significant increase in EMF/ELF exposure via high voltage transmission lines and high concentration of EMF-producing electronics.
- 24/7 noise and light pollution that extends for miles away from the data center site.
As Environmental Medicine clinicians, we know the impact these toxic exposures can have on our patient population. It is important for us to understand the potential risks and prepare to support and advocate for our local communities. See the extensive list of resources regading advocacy, health impacts and more.
Data Center Resource Center
Data Center Primary Resources
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -
- AI Data Center Health Impacts: Slides for Oct 2026 Webinar by Theodora Scarato, EHS
Environmental Health Sciences: Data Centers: Health and Environmental Risks
Pima County Public Health Review: a public health and baseline joint assessment with John Hopkins to provide a consistent, life-cycle approach for evaluating potential public health and environmental considerations associated with data center development.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute: Article series on the Environmental Impacts of Data Centers:
- Data Centers are Hotbeds of Health Risks
- Data Centers Are Contributing to PFAS Forever Chemical Pollution
- Communities Are Raising Noise Pollution Concerns About Data Centers
- Data Center Power Demands Are Contributing to Higher Energy Bills
- Data Centers and Water Consumption
Environmental Protection Network
- Holding Data Centers Accountable: A Guide to Federal Environmental Permitting to help communities navigate the federal permitting landscape of data center development.
- Community Action Guide: Short factsheet to accompany the longer guide.
- Hidden Health Costs of AI Data Centers Report: an in-depth look at how the rapid growth of AI data centers could affect Americans' health and how federal actions are increasing pollution risks.
Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition - The Piedmont Environmental Council
Brockovich AI Data Center: An initiative by activist Erin Brockovich which includes maps and statistics on data center locations, communities and legislation.
Data Center Toxic Exposure & Health Risks
Air Pollution
- Air Quality, health and economic impacts of the Vantage Data Center Facility, EmPower Analytics Group (2026)
- Health-informed Computing: Estimating and Addressing the Public Health Impact of Data Centers (2024)
- Air Pollution and the Public Health Costs of AI (Cal Tech, 2024)
- Localized Air Pollution Impacts from Data Centers in Northern Virginia (2026)
Water Contamination
- Understanding How Data Centers Impact Surface and Ground Waters (Univ. of Georgia, 2026)
- Drained by Data: The Cumulative Impact of Data Centers on Regional Water Stress (Ceres Study, 2025)
- Water behind the Watts: The Hidden Risk of Powering Data Centers (Ceres Study, 2025)
- Data Centers and Water Consumption (Article, EESI 2025)
Forever Chemicals (PFAS)
- Data Centers are Contributing to PFAS Forever Chemical Pollution (Article, EESI 2024)
Electromagnetic Fields (EMF/ELF)
- Environmental Health Sciences Factsheets and Science: Wireless Health Effect Resources
- AI data centers causing 'distortions in US power grid (Bloomberg, 2025)
- Long-term residential magnetic field exposure and neurodegenerative disease mortality: an 18-year nationwide cohort study in Switzerland (2026)
- Electromagnetic fields disrupt the pollination service by honeybees (2023)
E-Waste
- The Mitigation of AI Data Center E-Waste on the Federal Level (UC Davis, 2025)
Light & Noise Pollution
Data Center Policy Tools & Guidance
North Star Data Center Policy Toolkit: Mapping local, state, and federal policy interventions to stop or restrict data center development at the town, city, and county level.
Federation of American Scientists
- Before Breaking Ground Report: A Local Government Guide to Better Data Center Policy and Community Benefits
Sierra Club: 2026 State Policy Guidance
- The Southeastern PA Group (SPG) Data Center Resources for Local Governments
- Big Tech Unchecked Toolkit
- Food and Water Watch: How to Stop a Data Center Near You campaign toolkit
- The Urgent Case Against Data Centers and Toolkit: Stop the Data Center Buildout!
Federal Policy Request for Local Control of Cell Towers Tied to AI and 6G
- CTIA Report: AI & Wireless: Driving the Future of Innovation
- CTIA Letter: H.R. 2289, the American Broadband Deployment Act
Policy Recommendation on Noise