The Hidden Health Costs of Bitcoin Mining

A bitcoin mining facility within the Texas city of Granbury is critically affecting the well being of residents, inflicting cardiovascular issues, hypertension and listening to loss, consultants have warned.

A bitcoin mining facility in Granbury, Texas, is having a devastating impact on the health of local residents, causing cardiovascular problems, hypertension, and hearing loss, according to medical experts.

The facility, which was built in 2022, houses thousands of computers that require mechanical fans to operate around the clock to keep them cool. The noise generated by these fans is severely affecting the well-being of nearby residents.

"No person in their right mind would stay here," said Cheryl Shadden, a 61-year-old resident. "My windows rattle. The sound comes through my walls. My ears are ringing, 24/7."

According to Shadden, she has experienced difficulty sleeping since the plant was constructed in the town, and a doctor has since diagnosed her with permanent hearing loss.

Multiple residents have reported experiencing heart problems, hearing loss, and migraines since the mine began operating. In a months-long investigation, TIME uncovered more than 40 local residents who described suffering from similar symptoms. At least 10 of them, including children, required urgent care or emergency room visits.

Last week, five-year-old Indigo Rosenkranz suffered a seizure and was quickly transported to the emergency room. Her mother, Sarah, stated that her daughter had experienced persistent ear pain and severe infections.

The effects of noise on human health are well-established within the medical community. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) warns that workers should only be exposed to 90 decibels for less than eight hours a day and must wear hearing protection, as anything at that level can lead to permanent hearing loss. However, residents are subjected to this level of noise throughout the day and night without any protection.

Hood County Constable John Shirley reported that he has recorded noise levels exceeding 85 decibels from the plant on more than 35 occasions. The Texas state penal code defines 85 decibels as the noise limit, which is by far the highest state limit in the country.

Each time the bitcoin mine exceeds the noise limit, Shirley fines its owner, but the fines are only $500, adding up to a theoretical maximum fine of $17,500, which is very small compared to the bitcoin mine’s revenue. Its owner, Marathon, reported $165 million in revenue in the first quarter of 2024.

"These people here, they're good country people, and Bitcoin, to them, is almost a foreign alien thing," Dr. Salim Bhaloo, a local ear, nose, and throat specialist told TIME. "They don't understand it. And [the noise] is affecting their health and anxiety."

Marathon has stated that it will attempt to replace some of the fans with immersion cooling systems, which keep computers cool by submerging them in oil. However, the company also mentioned that it might not be able to do so because it could jeopardize its financial earnings.

To date, state leaders have welcomed bitcoin facilities with open arms. Gov. Greg Abbott has expressed his desire for Texas to become the number one state for blockchain and cryptocurrency, and lawmakers have been inclined to approve bitcoin-friendly legislation.

Some residents have explored the possibility of filing civil nuisance claims against Marathon. Shadden has reached out to the nonprofit Earthjustice to inquire about litigation options. The nonprofit has worked on similar cases against bitcoin mining operations.

"Historically, Bitcoin miners go to the cheapest source of electricity with the least amount of regulation, and they do the cheapest thing possible," said Earthjustice Deputy Managing Attorney Mandy DeRoche.

Other residents, however, have expressed their desire to simply move away from the mine. Following her daughter's medical emergency, Sarah Rosenkranz told TIME that she has no choice but to take out a second mortgage to find a new home far from the mine.

"This community has had enough," Shadden told The Texas Tribune.

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