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Agency officials are raising alarms over the potential for more pollution, especially as the Trump administration has withdrawn key wastewater rules that could have curbed PFAS discharges.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.
Key quote:
“We think it’s a terrible idea, despite Chemours’ claims that it needs to expand operations for additional demand for semiconductors and other technology applications.”
— Kelly Moser, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center
Why this matters:
Known as “forever chemicals” for their persistence in the environment, PFAS have been tied to cancer, fertility issues, and developmental harm. As AI pushes the demand for advanced chips into overdrive, PFAS usage is poised to increase — especially at U.S. facilities with spotty pollution records. This comes at a time when federal oversight is relaxing, and community exposures are rising. Contamination spreads through air, water, and soil, often far from the source. And with few substitutes available, the tech sector's dependency on PFAS may deepen environmental injustices already borne by vulnerable communities.
Read more: EPA accelerates semiconductor PFAS approvals amid pollution concerns
