A new study found it Bitcoin Mining Particles from the facility produce harmful air pollutants with particulates that cross the state’s boundaries, affecting areas far from the mine itself.
Between August 2022 and July 2023, approximately 1.9 million Americans were exposed to considerable levels of these microparticles. Natural Communication.
The affected communities include New York City, the Houston/Austin metropolitan area, northeastern Texas, and the areas along the Illinois/Kentucky border.
“Cross-state pollution”
A research team led by Dr. Francesca Dominich, a PhD at Harvard School of Public Health, found that Bitcoin mines frequently cause increased power production from fossil fuel power plants.
Compiling data from the 34 largest Bitcoin mines operating in the US, researchers argued that Bitcoin mines in one state could cause power plants in another state, burning more coal or gas, and sending pollution to another state in full.
This creates a situation that will make you irritate with those affected.
For example, electricity consumed by North Carolina mines triggered operations at coal-fired power plants in Kentucky, which subsequently affected Illinois air quality. Residents did not immediately rely on either the mine or the power plant.
However, this situation creates a regulatory gap, as the affected area is not from the same condition as the contaminants are generated.
One of the authors, Dr. Scott Delaney, said many “possible policy mechanisms” could help alleviate the challenges of “cross-state pollution.” Decryption In an email interview. “But these policies require federal action.”
Dr. Delaney specifically suggests that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can issue the “good neighbor” rule for PM2.5 (particulate) air pollution.
Such rules require that the upwind states have more positive control over power plant emissions. Delaney said programs could also be launched to encourage responsible residences for mining facilities and data centers to mitigate negative health effects.
Crypto and beyond
This finding applies beyond cryptography alone.
last month, Decryption A decline in revenues from publicly available Bitcoin mining companies has been reported.
This trend has led some of these miners to pivot from cryptography to AI.
“Bitcoin mines and AI infrastructure both require large data centers, and many of the equipment used to mine Bitcoin tokens can be reused for other applications,” explained Delaney.
The research comes when President Donald Trump spurred momentum to support the crypto industry.
On his campaign trajectory for his second term, Trump met with Bitcoin Miners and said he hopes that all Bitcoin will be made in America.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order to boost the country’s coal production.
The researchers behind the study warned that it could have an environmental impact along with the continued expansion of Bitcoin mining and AI infrastructure.
If the US is pursuing a policy that will keep coal-fired power plants online beyond planned retirements, researchers said Decryption“The pollution they produce is even more toxic.”
