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Potential health hazards of cryptocurrency mines l

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Potential health hazards of cryptocurrency mines laid bare by scientists
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By Emily Cooke published October 18, 2024
Anecdotal reports suggest that cryptocurrency mines can have harmful knock-on effects on people's health, but the true scale of the problem is still unknown.

 
 
 
 
 
 
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A gold coin with a "B" symbol is shown in focus on the left-hand side of the image. The background is black and blurred. On the right-hand side of the image there is another, smaller blurred gold coin.
Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, have surged in popularity, but little is known about how this exploding market could take a negative toll on our health. (Image credit: NurPhoto / Contributor via Getty Images)
In summer 2024, several news outlets chronicled the "nightmarish" impacts Texas communities endured due to the din of noise emanating from nearby cryptocurrency mines.

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Residents of these communities reported that the unrelenting noise caused them to experience a range of ailments, including high blood pressure, chest pain and tinnitus. The noise levels of the cryptocurrency mines allegedly reached 72 decibels — well above the 55 dB limit beyond which the World Health Organization (WHO) deems to be increasingly dangerous for public health.

These recent reports have stoked ongoing discussions about the potential health hazards of cryptocurrency mining. In a thinkpiece published Sept. 26 in the journal JAMA, three scientists argue that we are experiencing a "digital oil boom" that could have serious health consequences for everyone — not only the communities that live near mines. This problem extends beyond noise pollution, encompassing health risks associated with increasing energy consumption and accelerated climate change.Related: 'Any protein you can imagine, it can deliver': AI will help discover the next breakthrough in RNA, says Nobel Prize winner Dr. Drew Weissman

Energy-intensive mines
Cryptocurrency, a virtual currency that harnesses the blockchain, uses a network of computers to report transactions between users, which are documented in a digital ledger. The network is decentralized, meaning that it is not controlled or owned by any one person or group, unlike a traditional central bank, for instance. This structure allows users to transfer currency more quickly and cheaply and with less of a paper trail, compared with traditional banking.

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