Forever Chemicals: The Rising Environmental Impact of Modern Data Centers on Human Health

The proposed massive data center in Menomonie directly jeopardizes local efforts to meet the EPA’s stringent 4 parts-per-trillion PFAS limit. The center’s immense cooling and chemical needs threaten to discharge these indestructible “forever chemicals” back into the environment, undermining recent clean water gains.

Past industrial disposal at the 3M site in Menomonie, WI, leaked PFAS into the shallow groundwater. While on-site PFOA and PFOS levels exceed 1,000 ppt, the city’s deeper municipal wells remain uncontaminated and meet strict EPA standards. 3M is currently tracking the plume, overseen by the Wisconsin DNR.

Back History on Forever Chemicals (PFAS): where did they come from, and what products contain them?

“In 1952, 3M discovered its own PFAS chemical, PFOS, when its chemists were trying to develop a rubber that wouldn’t deteriorate when exposed to jet fuel. During the experiments, some of the new substance was dropped on a laboratory assistant’s tennis shoe. When the assistant tried to clean the substance from her shoe, she discovered that it was impervious to water and alcohol. 3M began marketing the new material in 1956 as “Scotchgard”. Source: GMO / Toxin Free: https://toxinfreeusa.org/education/what-are-pfas-forever-chemicals-and-how-to-avoid-them/?

PFAS has been in use since 1938, when DuPont accidentally created the water-and oil-repellent chemical PTFE while developing a refrigerant. It was later used in the Manhattan Project. 

“PFAS contain chains of carbon and fluorine atoms, which together form one of the strongest bonds in nature. Because the bonds are so strong, PFAS don’t break down easily, causing them to build up in the human body and the environment. Thus, they have come to be known as “Forever Chemicals.” GMO / Toxin Free: https://toxinfreeusa.org/education/what-are-pfas-forever-chemicals-and-how-to-avoid-them/?

Recent research links early-life and prenatal exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) with an increased risk of certain childhood cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, retinoblastoma, and neuroblastoma.

Environmental Protection Agency began to regulate these “forever chemicals”

Once the severe health risks of “forever chemicals” (PFAS) were discovered, manufacturers began phasing them out of production and began a process to regulate them. It wasn’t fully regulated until the first legally enforceable national drinking water standards were established. The EPA finalized the rule for PFOS and PFOA in April 2024, by the Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes First-Ever National Drinking Water Standard to Protect 100M People from PFAS Pollution, EPA,

The fight to regulate PFAS in drinking water highlights a stark policy shift between administrations. The Biden administration established the first national standards to protect millions from exposure to “forever chemicals”. However, following pushback from industry groups over legal procedures and compliance costs, the current Trump administration has moved to relax these regulations, extending deadlines and rescinding limits for several PFAS compounds

PFAS chemicals are used in thousands of products aimed at making life easier. But the chemicals are now almost everywhere, including in human blood, and are being linked to severe health problems.

PFAS are hiding in plain sight throughout the construction industry, used for water-repellency, weatherproofing, and lubrication. They are actively present in these specific building materials. And they are prevalent in data centers.

PFAS is everywhere! The state of Wisconsin, along with the DNR, is beginning to regulate them. While on the national political front, they play politics with our very lives by delaying regulation deadlines. We ask what can be done locally to protect our families from PFAS contamination.

Menomonie relies on state and federal regulations to manage PFAS in water and soil. The city’s municipal water is tested to meet the EPA’s strict, legally enforceable 4 parts per trillion (ppt) standard. It is functionally equivalent to detecting a single drop of contaminant in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Contaminated soil and groundwater sites are overseen by the Wisconsin DNR, which mandates polluter cleanup.

PFAS used in Data Center Liquid Cooling

Menomonie is fighting to keep drinking water safe from toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to comply with the EPA’s strict 4 parts per trillion limit. However, the proposal for a massive data center threatens these environmental gains. Cooling these servers demands immense water and chemical additives, risking the discharge of indestructible PFAS back into the local environment.

Data centers are increasingly submerging servers in specialized liquids to manage heat, but these fluids often contain hazardous “forever chemicals” (PFAS). This risk applies across all data center types, as these persistent, non-conductive, and heat-absorbent chemicals are utilized for cooling. For more information, read the full report at EESI.

Because PFAS molecules contain incredibly strong chemical bonds, they act as ultra-durable shields. In cooling systems, they create pipes that safely handle high heat and pressure without leaking. In data centers, they provide specialized gases that extinguish fires safely without ruining sensitive electronics with water.

According to Seirra Club, Data center cooling systems—particularly two-phase immersion cooling—often use fluorinated synthetic chemicals, a subset of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Because these “forever chemicals” persist in the environment, leaks or wastewater discharges can contaminate drinking water and pose serious human health risks.

The concern is that the Trump administration enacted policies to expedite permit issuance and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) review of new chemicals used in data centers. This prioritization has sparked debate, as it enables companies to seek EPA approval for new proprietary cooling fluids without explicitly mandating that they are biodegradable.

Exposure to certain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) or “forever chemicals” is linked to a wide range of serious health risks, including reproductive and developmental issues, increased risks of specific cancers, compromised immune responses, and widespread hormonal and metabolic disruptions.

The 1.6B data center is a threat to Menomonie and directly jeopardizes local efforts to meet the EPA’s stringent 4 parts-per-trillion PFAS limit. Past industrial disposal at the 3M site in Menomonie, WI, leaked PFAS into the shallow groundwater. While on-site PFOA and PFOS levels exceed 1,000 ppt, the city’s deeper municipal wells remain uncontaminated and meet strict EPA standards. 3M is currently tracking the plume, overseen by the Wisconsin DNR. Because the center’s immense cooling and chemical needs threaten to discharge these indestructible “forever chemicals” back into the environment, undermining recent clean water gains, the area must vote no on any data center, whether it be in the city, county, or any part of the Red Cedar Watershed.

Sources:

More information on PFAS regulation from the WI DNR: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/PFAS/Cleanup.html

To check specific, up-to-date levels, review the Menomonie Waterworks Consumer Confidence Report or use the Wisconsin DNR PFAS Interactive Data Viewer to explore municipal testing results by location.

Biden-Harris EPA https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-finalizes-first-ever-national-drinking-water-standard

Source: https://living-future.eu/breaking-free-from-forever-chemicals-pfas-the-red-list-material-and-the-future-of-healthy-materials-in-europe/?

PFAS used in cooling servers:

https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-are-contributing-to-pfas-forever-chemical-pollution

https://www.macquariedatacentres.com/blog/immersion-cooling\

PFAS linked to childhood cancers: https://publichealth.uci.edu/2025/07/09/pfas-exposure-and-childhood-cancers/

https://www.chemours.com/en/pfas-advocacy/data-centers

https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas

This prioritization has sparked debate, as it enables companies to seek EPA approval for new proprietary cooling fluids without explicitly mandating that they are biodegradable. https://www.wired.com/story/the-trump-administrations-data-center-push-could-open-the-door-for-new-forever-chemicals/

Rachel Tilseth is a Menomonie, Wisconsin-based environmental writer, filmmaker, and owner of Wolves of Douglas County WI Films & Media. Lead writer at The Red Cedar Watershed Ledger. Her work explores the intricate relationships between humans, wildlife, and local ecosystems.

Jan O’Neill-editor at large. Jan edits the blog for grammatical accuracy and contributes story ideas.

Given Jan’s extensive 45-year nursing background, protecting the health and well-being of the Menomonie area has been her life’s work. With deep local roots in the Red Cedar River Watershed, she views environmental conservation as a natural extension of public health. Jan is dedicated to halting the proposed mega data center to preserve the community’s natural resources, advocating instead for sustainable, community-driven economic development that protects the long-term quality of our watershed.

The Red Cedar Watershed Ledger is based in Menomonie, Wisconsin, in the historic Red Cedar Basin.

Discover how our local economy can thrive without leaving the planet behind. We cover news and stories on sustainable economic development, highlighting initiatives that boost community prosperity, foster equity, and protect our local ecosystems.

We are producing a series of educational articles and interviews featuring city leaders, scientists, and residents to explore sustainable economic development in the region. What began as a grassroots effort by Menomonie residents to successfully pause a controversial data center has evolved into a broader mission championing environmentally conscious, community-driven economic growth.”

The Red Cedar Watershed Ledger, Menomonie, WI

Wolves of Douglas CO WI Films & Media, LLC

https://wolvesofdouglascountywisconsin.com