PFAS pollution risk grows as chemical companies ramp up production for AI chip demand

By EHN Staff | EHN | June 13, 2025

Read the full article by EHN (EHN Staff)

"Semiconductor makers’ reliance on PFAS chemicals is spurring a new wave of pollution concerns as companies like Chemours and Daikin expand production to meet the artificial intelligence boom.

Miranda Willson reports for E&E News.

In short:

• Chemours plans to increase PFAS production at its North Carolina and West Virginia plants to meet demand from the semiconductor and AI industries, despite long histories of environmental contamination at both sites.
• Regulators and former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials are raising alarms over the potential for more pollution, especially as the Trump administration has withdrawn key wastewater rules that could have curbed PFAS discharges.
• Chemours and other companies argue that PFAS are indispensable for semiconductor manufacturing, particularly for AI-driven data centers, but community advocates and scientists say safer alternatives should be explored."

Topics:

• ChemicalsPFAS
• ChemicalsPolymer
• Products
• Affected community
• Health
• Measurement Techniques
• Monitoring Data
• PFAS Uses