COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — According to a new report, data center emissions could cause breathing issues and premature deaths for those living nearby.
A report from Community & Environmental Defense Services (CEDS) suggests states require data centers to provide health impact assessments before they are built to prevent negative effects on nearby residents’ health. Ohio does not require health impact reports for data centers, but central Ohioans are becoming more wary of data center pollutants and health risks.
The report was compiled by CEDS founder and president Richard Klein, who has been working in development-related concerns for 40 years. Klein found a single data center could pose negative health risks for people living at least 0.6-miles away, sometimes further. Klein said risks increase when a home is near multiple data centers.
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A growing number of central Ohioans live near one or more data centers, or will in the near future. There are over 130 data centers in the Columbus area, with large concentrations of data centers in New Albany, western Licking County and Hilliard. See previous coverage of Ohio data centers in the video player above…