Pima County probes potential data center health risks
Pima County has released a new report exploring the potential health risks associated with data center developments, including impacts on heat, air, and noise pollution, and water consumption. The findings aim to inform future development evaluations, and the Pima County Board of Supervisors recently voted to draft a resolution for a three-month moratorium on data center construction.
Dr. Theresa Cullen, Director of the Pima County Health Department, initiated a review into the potential health impacts of data centers due to a lack of existing research. Partnering with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Pima County subsequently released its "Data Center Public Health Review," a 20-page document summarizing current knowledge.
The report outlines potential health risks, including increased heat, air, and noise pollution, and elevated water consumption, noting these could exacerbate existing high rates of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in Pima County. It also highlights a critical gap in epidemiologic studies that directly track human health outcomes in communities near data centers, emphasizing the need for localized data collection.
While the Health Department lacks direct regulatory authority, its findings will guide future development evaluations. The Board of Health has the power to request project assessments and issue resolutions to the Board of Supervisors. Following the report's release, the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to draft a resolution for a three-month moratorium on data center development, indicating the county's intent to use the report to inform future decisions.
Protests against a data center project southeast of Tucson were also mentioned, reflecting ongoing community concerns.