Air Pollution Linked to Bitcoin Mining Affects Nearly 2 Million Americans, Study Reveals

Approximately 1.9 million Americans have been exposed to increased air pollution from fine particulate matter due to Bitcoin mining, according to a study published in Nature Communications.

A team of researchers led by Francesca Dominici from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health discovered that the states most significantly affected include:

The investigators analyzed data from 34 of the largest Bitcoin mining facilities, which had a total capacity of 3,910 MW. Between August 2022 and July 2023, these operations consumed a combined total of 32.5 terawatt-hours of electricity, with 85% of this energy generated from fossil fuels.

Electricity for the Bitcoin miners was supplied by 138 coal plants and 497 gas plants, often located far from the mining sites. In response to demand, these facilities increased generation from backup capacity, resulting in higher emissions of fine particulate matter.

The researchers noted that this type of pollution is associated with premature mortality and other adverse health effects.

The authors stressed that residents of areas far from data centers were also subjected to elevated concentrations of fine particles due to mining activities. For example, the major power supplier for the Atlas Power site in Williston, North Dakota, was the Jeffrey Energy Center coal plant located in St. Marys, Kansas, which is about 1,155 kilometers away.

“Residents of Metropolis, Illinois, breathe high levels of PM 2.5 pollutants emitted by a Kentucky power plant that supplies Bitcoin mining in North Carolina,” the study states.

This situation complicates the ability of the public, advocacy groups, and local authorities to respond effectively to the rise in emissions, the researchers argue.

They estimate that since the completion of their study, the capacities of mining operations have likely increased significantly. If industry players fulfill their plans, the total capacity could now reach as high as 7,945 MW.

According to the researchers, Bitcoin mining presents two primary air pollution challenges:

They suggest that «responsible siting» regulations for miners and intervention by federal agencies to combat air pollution in affected regions could be viable solutions.

Additionally, it is worth noting that a bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to impose regional emission limits on cryptocurrency mining facilities and AI data centers.