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| Promoting Research for Authoritative Wind Turbine Guidelines |
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“…health includes mental, physical and social functioning, which are closely associated and interdependent.” - World Health Organization [1]
Clinicians and other researchers have documented both physiological and psychological symptoms reported by victims experiencing adverse health effects from wind turbines. [2],[3],[4],[5] Many families have abandoned their homes to protect their health. This cannot be denied.
Some of the reported physiological symptoms include headaches, heart palpitations, excessive tiredness, tinnitus, hearing problems, stress, sleep disturbance, and migraines.
The authors of An American and Canadian Wind Energy Association sponsored report (A/CanWEA Panel Review) does not dispute that there are victims experiencing adverse physiological symptoms.[6],[7]
The A/CanWEA Panel Review recognizes wind turbine noise characteristics such as low frequency and fluctuating noise may be annoying to some.[8]
The A/CanWEA Panel Review also acknowledged that In addition to annoyance wind turbine noise may cause stress and sleep disturbance. [9]
One of the authors of the A/CanWEA Panel Review W. David Colby, M.D. reinforced these findings when he stated
“We’re not denying that there are people annoyed and that maybe some of them are getting stressed out enough about being annoyed that they’re getting sick.”[10]
Wind turbine annoyance, stress and sleep disturbance have been documented in peer reviewed studies[11] and confirmed by The Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario and Agency for Health Protection and Promotion.[12],[13]
Wind turbine physiological adverse effects documented by clinicians and researchers are consistent with symptoms commonly associated with annoyance[14], stress[15],[16] and sleep disturbance. [17]
[18]
Currently there is no authoritative international guideline for wind turbine noise designed to protect human health.[19]
The American and Canadian Wind Energy Associations do not appear to support the development of authoritative wind turbine noise guidelines designed to protect human health. On the contrary they are of the opinion that the authoritative noise guidelines of the World Health Organization need not be adhered to.[20]
The Society for Wind Vigilance’s mission is to mitigate the risk of both physiological and psychological adverse heath effects through the advancement of independent third party research and its application to the siting of industrial wind turbines.
[2] Amanda Harry M.D., Wind Turbines Noise and Health, 2007
[5] Dr Nina Pierpont, Wind Turbine Syndrome, 2009
[6] W. David Colby, M.D. et al., Wind Turbine Sound and Health Effects, An Expert Panel Review 2009, Prepared for American Wind Energy Association and Canadian Wind Energy Association
[7] Leventhall Geoff, Wind Turbines Large Small and Unusual, November 11, 2009
[8] W. David Colby, M.D. et al., Wind Turbine Sound and Health Effects, An Expert Panel Review 2009, Prepared for American Wind Energy Association and Canadian Wind Energy Association
[9] W. David Colby, M.D. et al., Wind Turbine Sound and Health Effects, An Expert Panel Review 2009, Prepared for American Wind Energy Association and Canadian Wind Energy Association
[10] W. David Colby, M.D., Sounding Board, 97.9 FM The Beach December 17, 2009
[11] Pedersen et al., 2008,Project WINDFARMperception Visual and acoustic impact of wind turbine farms on residents
[12] Copes, R. and K. Rideout. Wind Turbines and Health: A Review of Evidence. Ontario
Agency for Health Protection and Promotion 2009
[13] Arlene King, M.D., Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care Memorandum, October 21, 2009
[14] W. David Colby, M.D. et al., Wind Turbine Sound and Health Effects, An Expert Panel Review 2009, Prepared for American Wind Energy Association and Canadian Wind Energy Association
[19] Keith, S. E., D. S. Michaud, and S. H. P. Bly. 2008. A proposal for evaluating the potential health effects of wind turbine noise for projects under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Journal of Low Frequency Noise, Vibration and Active Control, 27(4):253-265.
[20] W. David Colby, M.D. et al., Wind Turbine Sound and Health Effects, An Expert Panel Review 2009, Prepared for American Wind Energy Association and Canadian Wind Energy Association
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