比特幣採礦發出遍布各州的有害空氣污染物：研究揭示

一項新發表的同行評審研究引起了對美國比特幣採礦的環境和公共衛生影響的警報

A newly published peer-reviewed study has sounded the alarm over the environmental and public health impact of Bitcoin mining in the U.S., with a focus on the major facilities and the spread of dangerous fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

一項新發表的同行評審研究對美國比特幣採礦的環境和公共衛生影響發出了警報，重點是主要設施和危險精細顆粒物的傳播（PM2.5）。

According to the research in Nature Communications, emissions from these large-scale mining operations travel far beyond their local environment and ultimately harm millions of Americans in distant states with a key focus on new study in Nature Communications examines the environmental burden of the U.S. bitcoin mining boom. Published on March 26, the study titled “The environmental burden of the United States’ bitcoin mining boom” was led by Dr. Francesca Dominici of Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

根據自然通訊的研究，這些大規模採礦業務的排放遠遠超出了當地的環境，最終傷害了數以百萬計的美國人在遙遠的州，關注自然通信的新研究，研究了美國比特幣採礦繁榮的環境負擔。該研究於3月26日發表，標題為“美國比特幣礦業繁榮的環境負擔”，由哈佛大學TH Chan公共衛生學院的Francesca Dominici博士領導。

The study analyzed the top 34 Bitcoin data mining facilities in the U.S. between August 2022 and July 2023, examining their energy consumption, primary energy mix, and spatial footprint.

該研究分析了2022年8月至2023年7月之間美國的前34個比特幣數據挖掘設施，研究了它們的能源消耗，主要能源組合和空間足跡。

These 34 facilities, which together process nearly 40% of Bitcoin’s total hash rate, are powered by an average energy mix of 67% fossil fuels, 26% nuclear, 5% hydro, and 2% renewables.

這34個設施共同處理比特幣總哈希速率的近40％，由67％化石燃料，26％的核能，5％的水電和2％的可再生能源提供動力。

The researchers used a state-of-the-art atmospheric model to estimate the impact of these facilities’ emissions on ambient PM2.5 concentrations across the U.S. Their findings show that this mining activity is exposing an estimated 1.9 million Americans to elevated levels of PM2.5.

研究人員使用最先進的大氣模型來估計這些設施的排放對美國環境PM2.5濃度的影響，他們的發現表明，這種採礦活動正在暴露於大約190萬美國人的PM2.5水平。

Key Takeaways:

關鍵要點：

* A new study in Nature Communications examines the environmental burden of the U.S. bitcoin mining boom.

*一項關於自然通訊的新研究檢查了美國比特幣採礦繁榮的環境負擔。

* The research, led by Dr. Francesca Dominici of Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, analyzed the top 34 Bitcoin data mining facilities in the U.S. between August 2022 and July 2023.

*這項研究由哈佛大學TH Chan公共衛生學院的Francesca Dominici博士領導，分析了2022年8月至2023年7月在美國的前34個比特幣數據挖掘設施。

* These facilities, which together process nearly 40% of Bitcoin’s total hash rate, are powered by an average energy mix of 67% fossil fuels, 26% nuclear, 5% hydro, and 2% renewables.

*這些設施共同處理比特幣總哈希率的近40％，由67％化石燃料，26％的核能，5％的水力和2％的可再生能源提供動力。

* As a result of this mining activity, researchers estimate that 1.9 million Americans are being exposed to ≥0.5 μg/m³ of additional PM2.5—a key air pollutant—over the course of a year.

*由於這項採礦活動，研究人員估計，在一年的過程中，有190萬美國人暴露於≥0.5μg/m³的額外PM2.5（一種主要的空氣污染物）。

* This exposure is largely concentrated in New York City, the Houston/Austin corridor, northeast Texas, and parts of the Illinois/Kentucky border, where residents face the greatest impact from Bitcoin mining.

*這種暴露在很大程度上集中在紐約市，休斯頓/奧斯汀走廊，得克薩斯州東北部以及伊利諾伊州/肯塔基州的部分地區，那裡的居民面臨比特幣採礦的最大影響。

* A glaring regulatory blind spot emerges as a consequence, highlighting how state governments lack the authority to regulate pollution originating from out-of-state activities.

*結果出現了一個明顯的監管盲點，強調了州政府如何缺乏調節來自州外活動的污染權的權力。

* To mitigate this issue, the study suggests the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could introduce a “Good Neighbor” rule, requiring upwind states to more aggressively curtail power plant emissions.

*為了減輕此問題，研究表明，美國環境保護署（EPA）可以引入“好鄰居”規則，要求上風州更積極地減少發電廠的排放。

* This would in turn reduce downstream pollution in downwind states, ultimately lessening the health burden on millions of Americans.

*反過來，這將減少下風州的下游污染，最終減輕了數百萬美國人的健康負擔。

The researchers, who used a state-of-the-art atmospheric model to quantify the impact of these facilities’ emissions on ambient PM2.5 concentrations across the U.S., estimated that this mining activity is exposing an estimated 1.9 million Americans to elevated levels of PM2.5.

研究人員使用最先進的大氣模型來量化這些設施的排放對整個美國環境PM2.5濃度的影響，據估計，這種採礦活動估計將大約190萬美國人暴露於PM2.5的升高水平。

This exposure is largely concentrated in New York City, the Houston/Austin corridor, northeast Texas, and parts of the Illinois/Kentucky border, where residents are facing the greatest impact from Bitcoin mining.

這種接觸主要集中在紐約市，休斯敦/奧斯汀走廊，德克薩斯州東北部以及伊利諾伊州/肯塔基州的部分地區，那裡的居民面臨對比特幣採礦的最大影響。

However, a glaring regulatory blind spot emerges as a consequence.

但是，因此出現了一個明顯的調節盲點。

The report notes that state governments currently lack the authority to regulate pollution that originates from out-of-state activities.

該報告指出，目前，州政府缺乏規范源自州外活動的污染的權力。

This poses a significant obstacle, as the study found that, for instance, residents in Metropolis, Illinois, are being exposed to PM2.5 emissions from a power plant in Kentucky, which in turn supports a Bitcoin mine in North Carolina.

這構成了一個重要的障礙，因為該研究發現，例如，伊利諾伊州大都會的居民正在暴露於肯塔基州的一家發電廠的PM2.5排放中，這反過來又支持北卡羅來納州的比特幣礦山。

In order to mitigate this issue, the study suggests the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could introduce a “Good Neighbor” rule.

為了減輕此問題，研究表明，美國環境保護署（EPA）可以引入“好鄰居”規則。

This rule would require upwind states to more aggressively curtail power plant emissions, which would in turn reduce downstream pollution in downwind states and ultimately lessen the health burden on millions of Americans.

該規則將要求上風州更積極地減少發電廠的排放，這反過來又減少了下游州的下游污染，並最終減輕了數百萬美國人的健康負擔。

The study also delves into the economic implications of Bitcoin mining in the U.S.

該研究還深入研究了美國比特幣採礦的經濟影響

It highlights the significant role of the government in supporting this industry through tax breaks and subsidies for clean energy technologies.

它強調了政府通過稅收減免和清潔能源技術的補貼來支持該行業的重要作用。

Moreover, the researchers note that despite the industry’s claims of being rapidly adopting sustainable energy sources, the pace of this transition may be slower than anticipated due to the timelag in reporting and processing data from new mining facilities.

此外，研究人員還指出，儘管該行業聲稱要迅速採用可持續能源，但由於時間表的報告和處理數據，該過渡的步伐可能比預期的要慢。

This finding is critical for understanding the true scope of the industry’s environmental footprint and the urgency needed in shifting towards more sustainable practices.

這一發現對於理解行業環境足蹟的真正範圍以及轉移更可持續的實踐所需的緊迫性至關重要。