The booming popularity of cryptocurrency in recent years has sparked concerns among experts. Its byproducts may be taking an unintentional toll on humans. What exactly is happening? Three scientists delved into the potential health hazards associated with cryptocurrency mining in their think piece published in JAMA. According to Live Science, they compared it to a “digital oil boom,” noting that its rapid rise could lead to increased reliance on power plants that operate only when demands peak. These facilities often run on dirty energy, polluting the environment with toxic gases that cause chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and contribute to global warming.

Advertisement

Health Hazards from Dirty Energy

Crypto mining mostly uses fossil fuel electricity from coal and natural gas power plants. This generates emissions of CO2 and other air pollutants, which harm human health and contribute to climate change. Benjamin Jones, an associate professor of economics at the University of New Mexico who was not involved in the article, emphasized this in an email to Live Science. The environmental pollution can lead to various health issues such as chronic diseases.

Moreover, the excessive noise pollution from cryptocurrency mines has been linked to sleep disorders, higher blood pressure, and heart diseases. Mary Willis, the lead author of the paper, told Live Science that these mines will strain the energy sector, leading to power failures in areas with overburdened grids and more blackouts. The latter can result in more carbon monoxide poisonings from generators, gastrointestinal illnesses from improper refrigeration, and even deaths in hospitals when medical devices turn off.

Real-life Examples of Negative Impact

In Granbury, Texas, one cryptocurrency facility has created a “nightmarish” scenario. Its dull humming has caused some residents to develop permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, and severe cases of vertigo. This shows how some communities have already had their quality of life negatively affected by crypto mines.

Live Science also noted that the “proof-of-work” algorithms used by cryptocurrency for transactions become “exponentially more difficult over time,” making its energy requirements even more intense. The U.S. Energy Information Administration calculated that mining already accounts for 0.6%-2.3% of the nation’s electricity consumption. Some centers in Texas use 2,600 megawatts, and this figure is projected to double by 2030.

Efforts to Combat Harmful Effects

The citizens of Granbury filed a lawsuit in October against Bitcoin mine operator Marathon Digital Holdings for generating “unrelenting noise and physical vibrations.” In Memphis, Tennessee, a local utility company’s decision to supply power to a nearby crypto mining data center has drawn the displeasure of the community.

Other efforts to address this issue include Ethereum’s proof-of-stake system, which has cut energy rates by 99.5%. The EIA is also trying to hold the industry accountable by announcing its intention to collect data on the power usage of cryptocurrency miners. These steps are crucial in mitigating the harmful effects of cryptocurrency mines.