A weekly roundup of public health news
Surge in data centers could raise electricity costs, worsen pollution
As data centers rapidly expand across the U.S., new research warns Americans could face higher electric bills, greater pollution and even hotter neighborhoods.
Published May 12 in Environmental Research Letters, a new study projects electricity demand could sharply increase power costs and carbon emissions by 2030. Researchers modeled energy demand from data centers and cryptocurrency mining across 26 U.S. power-grid regions, finding electricity prices could rise nearly 30% nationally, with some regions seeing increases as high as 57%.
The steepest price increases were projected for areas such as eastern North Carolina, west Texas, Virginia, Ohio, West Virginia and New York. Researchers found growing electricity demand from data centers alone could increase power-sector carbon emissions by up to 28% by 2030.
Rising demand from data centers is also likely to increase reliance on natural gas and coal-fired power plants, potentially reversing years of progress in reducing emissions from the electricity sector, researchers said.
The U.S. is estimated to have more than 3,000 operating data centers, which are large warehouse-like facilities that house computer systems and electrical and cooling equipment. Another 1,500 centers are in development, according to the Pew Research Center.
In California — one of three states expected to see the most new growth in rural data centers in coming years — the facilities could add 2 gigawatts of electricity demand by 2030 and 4 gigawatts by 2040 — enough power for about 3 million homes at one time, according to new predictions from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Without stronger safeguards, expanding data-center operations could raise electricity costs for residents, destabilize power grids and contribute to blackouts, the group warned.
People who live near data centers may also endure hotter temperatures in their neighborhoods. A May 12 study in the Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Buildings and Cities found that heat generated by data centers can increase temperatures in surrounding communities by as much as 4 degrees. Researchers said the heat effects can extend as far as a third of a mile from the facilities.
Even as concerns over the environmental and health impacts of data centers grow, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposal May 11 that could make it easier for data centers to begin construction before obtaining certain federal air pollution permits. The new rule would revise preconstruction permitting regulations to allow builders to begin work on some structures before major reviews are completed.
The move would “let data centers, power plants and other major polluters build first and ask permission later,” according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Payoffs to Medicare Advantage brokers may steer seniors toward wrong plans
Millions of older Americans rely on insurance brokers to help them choose Medicare Advantage plans. A new study finds insurers are spending billions of dollars to keep those enrollments coming — and business is booming.
Published in JAMA Internal Medicine on May 18, the research estimated that payments from Medicare Advantage insurers to brokers more than doubled from 2014 to 2022, reaching about $10 billion a year.
Brokers help people compare plans, explain benefits and enroll in coverage. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurers as an alternative to traditional Medicare. The plans, which promise lower premiums and caps on out-of-pocket spending, can be confusing for many older adults.
Use of brokers has steadily increased over time. About 36% of seniors newly enrolling in Medicare Advantage used a broker in 2014. By 2022, that number had climbed to nearly 44%. Brokers receive commissions when people first enroll and each year as they stay in plans.
Researchers said the findings raise concerns that people may be steered into plans they are not best suited for. Seniors could end up enrolling in plans that do not include their preferred doctors or hospitals, face unexpected prior authorization rules or become stuck in plans that are difficult to leave, for example.
Many older adults enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans — who make up half of all Medicare users — regularly encounter barriers to care, according to the American College of Physicians. People who have low incomes, live in rural areas or have multiple chronic conditions are particularly impacted. The physicians organization called for Medicare Advantage to be reformed, including stronger marketing oversight, faster response times for authorizations, better telehealth options and an emphasis on patient care over financial considerations.
Disposable food, beverage plastics contaminating coastlines
The plastic that billions of people throw away daily after eating or drinking is one of the biggest sources of pollution washing onto the world’s coastlines.
A new study, published May 20 in One Earth, found that food- and drink-related plastics dominate shoreline litter in most countries around the world, including the U.S.
Researchers analyzed data on more than 100 countries, finding food- and beverage-related plastics among the top three forms of shoreline litter in 93% of countries studied, including China, India and the U.S.
In the U.S., common types of litter included plastic cutlery, cups, straws and drink lids as well as cigarette butts, foam products and plastic bottles. Fishing gear pollution was also common along coastlines.
Researchers said the findings show how heavily the world relies on short-lived, disposable plastics that are quickly discarded after use. Around 20 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the environment every year, according to the study. By 2060, plastic pollution in oceans could reach 145 million metric tons — roughly the equivalent of 6 million fully loaded garbage trucks.
Besides harming wildlife and marine ecosystems, plastic pollution can contaminate water quality as it degrades and leaches chemicals. Breakdown into microplastics also is a concern, as the material can be ingested by sea life and enter the human food chain.
Other recent public health news of note includes:
• Pollution from coal-fired power plants is reducing electricity output from solar energy facilities around the world, according to a new study published May 15 in Nature Sustainability. Researchers analyzed more than 140,000 solar installations worldwide, finding air pollution cut global solar electricity output by nearly 6% in 2023.
• Common food preservatives found in many processed foods may increase the risks of high blood pressure and heart disease, according to new findings published May 20 in the European Heart Journal. Researchers followed more than 112,000 adults in France for about eight years, tracking their diets and health. People who consumed the highest amounts of certain preservatives had significantly greater risks of hypertension and cardiovascular disease than those who consumed the least.
• Prior authorization rules differ widely among major commercial health insurers, according to new research published May 18 in Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers reviewed policies from three large insurers — Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare — finding little consistency on which medical services or medications required authorization from insurers. The lack of agreement can lead to barriers for clinicians and delays for patients.
The Watch is written by Michele Late, who has more than two decades of experience as a public health journalist.e than two decades of experience as a public health journalist.
