The Harvard University study reveals the spread of bitcoin mining

A new study found this Bitcoin mining Harmful air pollutants are produced, with accurate molecules of facilities that cross the border, which affect the areas far from the mines themselves.

Between August 2022 to July 2023, about 1.9 million Americans were exposed to large levels of these fine particles, according to researchers behind the pioneer Ticket Posted in Nature Communications.

The affected societies include New York City, Houston/Austin Metropolitan, northeastern Texas and regions along the Illinois/Kentucky borders.

“Pollution across the state”

The research team, led by Dr. Francesca Dominishey at Harvard College at the College of Public Health, found that bitcoin mines often caused an increase in electricity production from fossil fuel power plants.

The researchers collected data from the 34 largest bitcoin mines in the United States, that the Bitcoin mine in a state could lead to the power plant in another to burn more coal or gas, and send pollution to another state completely.

This creates a frustrating situation for those affected.

For example, the electricity consumed by a mine in North Carolina caused by operations in a coal factory in Kentucky, which then affected the air quality in Illinois-with residents who do not have immediate asylum against the mine or power plant.

But since the affected areas are not the same situation where pollutants arise, this position produces an organizational gap.

Dr. Scott Dylani, one of the authors, told “one of the possible policy mechanisms.” Decipher In an email interview. “But these policies require federal measures.”

Dr. Dylani specifically suggests that the American Environmental Protection Agency can issue a “good neighbor” base for PM2.5 (fine molecules).

Such a rule requires wind cases to control the emissions of the power plant more aggressively. Dylani suggested that the programs that motivate the responsible sites for mining facilities and data centers can be launched to reduce negative health effects.

Evidence and beyond

The results of the study also apply beyond the mere encoding.

Last month, Decipher I mentioned a Decrease Between bitcoin mining companies circulating for the public.

This trend has led some of these miners to the coding axis to artificial intelligence.

“Bitcoin mines and Amnesty International infrastructure require large data centers, and many equipment used to decorate bitcoin symbols can be reused for other applications,” Dylani explained.

The study comes at a time when US President Donald Trump motivated momentum to support the encryption industry.

On the campaign’s path to his second term, Trump met with bitcoin mines workers He said He wants all bitcoin in America.

Earlier this month, Trump Fell Executive order to enhance coal production in the country.

The researchers behind the study warned that the continuous expansion of bitcoin mining, along with the infrastructure of Amnesty International, could have terrible environmental consequences.

If the United States has followed the policies that keep the online coal -powered power plants outside the planned retirement, the researchers said Decipher“The pollution they produce will be more toxic.”