Forever Chemicals Surge as AI Boom Drives Pfas Production Expansion

Major chemical manufacturers are launching what campaigners describe as a “tidal wave” of forever chemicals production to satisfy surging demand from the artificial intelligence industry, despite mounting health concerns over these persistent compounds. A survey of the 10 biggest Pfas producers found that nearly all have plans to increase output, with many explicitly framing their investments around the so-called AI revolution.

The chemicals, formally known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been linked to cancer, birth defects, decreased immunity, high cholesterol, kidney disease and other serious health problems. The compounds earned their “forever chemicals” nickname because they never naturally degrade in the environment. Anne-Sofie Bäckar, executive director of ChemSec, the Swedish chemicals watchdog that conducted the research, warned that expansion plans threaten to undermine emerging restrictions in Europe, the UK and parts of the United States.

“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 Bäckar.

The AI technology boom drives demand primarily because Pfas play critical roles in semiconductor production and next-generation datacentre cooling systems marketed as “eco-friendly” alternatives. Japan-headquartered Daikin announced plans to launch a “datacentre hub” to meet demand, promising to “maintain and expand our top share in the industry by expanding sales of existing fluorine products and introducing new products”. French multinational Arkema is expanding its refrigerant offering with a new $60 million production unit in Kentucky that the company said “will enable us to follow the rapid expansion of datacenters’ cooling needs”.

US Producer Expands Despite Massive Settlement

American Pfas producer Chemours is expanding operations to meet demand from “advanced datacenters and AI hardware”, promoting what it describes as “innovative liquid cooling solutions” that lower energy, water, space, maintenance and investment costs for datacentres. Critics point out that Chemours was recently ordered to pay $450 million to settle a lawsuit over Pfas discharges, and they accuse the company of downplaying the chemicals’ toxicity and climate impact.

Additional companies increasing production include Japanese multinational AGC, Chinese conglomerate Dongyue, India-based chemicals giant Gujarat Fluorochemicals, secretive Russian Pfas producer HaloPolymer, Mexico‘s Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials, US-based fluorinated gases producer Solstice and Belgian multinational Syensqo. ChemSec’s survey documented expansion plans across sites in Europe, Asia and North America.

Datacentres Face Multiple Environmental Concerns

Public health advocates fear that Pfas pollution represents another environmental problem linked to datacentres, which have already been accused of delaying the US transition to clean energy by requiring fossil fuel plants to stay online and consuming alarming volumes of water. Big tech companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon frequently need datacentres to store servers and networking equipment that process the world’s digital traffic, and the artificial intelligence boom continues driving demand for more facilities.

Advocates express particular concern over facilities’ use of Pfas gas, or f-gas, which can be potent greenhouse gases and may indicate that datacentres’ climate impact is worse than previously thought. Other f-gases transform into a type of dangerous compound that is rapidly accumulating across the globe. Jonathan Kalmuss-Katz, an attorney with the non-profit Earthjustice, monitors Pfas use in datacentres and expressed deep concern about the lack of research.

“We know there are Pfas in these centers and all of that has to go somewhere,” said Kalmuss-Katz. “This issue has been dangerously understudied as we have been building out datacenters, and there’s not adequate information on what the long term impacts will be.”

Testing and Reporting Gaps Obscure Pollution Scope

No testing for Pfas air or water pollution has yet been conducted at datacentres, and companies are not required to report the volume of chemicals they use or discharge. Some environmental groups have started pushing for state legislation that would require more comprehensive reporting. The datacenter industry maintains that the Pfas it uses causes minimal pollution, but advocates strongly disagree with this assessment.

Concern among advocates increased in mid-September when the Environmental Protection Agency announced it would fast-track review of new Pfas and other chemicals used by datacentres. Pfas comprises a class of about 16,000 chemicals most frequently used to make products water-, stain- and grease-resistant, and the compounds are needed in datacentres’ operations, including cooling equipment, which almost certainly leads to some on-site pollution.

Disposal Creates Additional Contamination Risk

Environmental advocates say datacentres increase Pfas pollution both directly and indirectly. Beyond operational needs, Pfas used in equipment housed within the centers must be disposed of, a particularly difficult process because the chemicals cannot naturally break down. Opponents of expanded production argue that these persistent compounds represent a ticking timebomb for human and planetary health, with increased production risking reversal of nascent moves to restrict Pfas in multiple jurisdictions.

The convergence of AI-driven demand and manufacturers’ eagerness to capitalize on the technology boom has created what critics view as a dangerous moment for environmental health policy. With production expansion already underway at sites around the world and regulatory frameworks struggling to keep pace with industry growth, the long-term consequences of widespread Pfas proliferation remain largely unknown. The lack of mandatory testing and reporting requirements leaves significant gaps in understanding the full scope of forever chemicals pollution stemming from the datacentre sector.

As manufacturers tout the energy efficiency and sustainability benefits of Pfas-based cooling systems, public health advocates emphasize that these marketing claims ignore the persistent environmental and human health costs associated with forever chemicals that will remain in ecosystems indefinitely. The tension between rapid AI infrastructure buildout and chemical safety concerns appears set to intensify as both industry expansion and regulatory scrutiny accelerate in coming months.