GoKawiil
Tech News
An investigation by The Guardian found that nearly all of the world's ten largest producers of PFAS, or 'forever chemicals,' intend to expand production to supply the booming data center industry. These chemicals are widely used in cooling systems, AI chips, circuit boards, fire suppression equipment, and cable coatings inside data centers.
ProPublica reporter Sharon Lerner uncovered internal 3M records showing the company knew as early as the 1970s that PFAS compounds used in nonstick coatings, food packaging and stain-resistant products had entered people's bloodstreams worldwide. Rather than disclosing this, 3M kept the findings confidential for decades, according to a former company scientist who spoke with Lerner.
California's Proposition 65, the 1986 law requiring warnings on products that may expose consumers to chemicals linked to cancer or reproductive harm, is marking its 40th anniversary this year even as many consumers remain confused by its labels. The law does not ban the chemicals in question but forces businesses to disclose their presence above certain thresholds, leaving buyers to decide for themselves whether to avoid a product.