Health Summary

Manitoulin Coalition for Safe Energy Alternatives
Position on health effects
Is Industrial Wind Power a danger to the health and well being of our community?
Here is the latest information from the world acclaimed site on the health effects of industrial wind turbines -WindVigilance.com
A Primer on Industrial Wind Turbines and Adverse Health Effects
March, 2010
The American Wind Energy Association and Canadian Wind Energy Association
sponsored report (A/CanWEA Panel Review) denies that industrial wind turbines
may cause adverse health effects. 1 This denial does not withstand scrutiny.
On January 11, 2010 The Society for Wind Vigilance released a critique of the
A/CanWEA Panel Review and concluded that it was “…neither authoritative
nor convincing..” and “…independent third party studies must be undertaken
establish the incidence and prevalence of adverse health effects relating to wind
turbines. Beyond that a deeper understanding of the potential mechanisms for
the impacts must be elucidated in order to define the mechanisms by which the
sleep disturbance, stress and psychological distress occur.”2
On January 19, 2010 The UK National Health Service (NHS) released an
independent critique of the A/CanWEA Panel Review and concluded “The link
between psychological distress and physical symptoms has not been explored by
this report. The acknowledgment that some people exposed to wind turbine noise
suffer annoyance suggests that monitoring and maximum permitted levels need
to be considered carefully in areas where turbines are planned. Overall, this
review will probably not resolve this controversy as there was a lack of high-level
evidence on which to base any solid conclusions. What is now needed are
studies that compare people exposed to turbine noise with well-matched control
subjects who have not had that exposure.”3
The NHS critique is based on “the best scientific knowledge currently available”.
Two independent critiques of the same industry sponsored review have come to
remarkably similar conclusions.
The A/CanWEA Panel Review acknowledges that wind turbine noise may cause
annoyance, stress and sleep disturbance and that as a result people may
experience adverse physiological and psychological symptoms. 4
In a radio interview one of the authors of the A/CanWEA Panel Review W. David
Colby, M.D. 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.” 5
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care also acknowledge wind
turbines may cause annoyance, stress and sleep disturbance.6
The A/CanWEA Panel Review acknowledges wind turbine noise induced
symptoms may include palpitations, insomnia, nose bleeds, dizziness, nausea,
eye strain, feeling vibration and headache. 7
In 2010 Geoff Leventhall an author of the A/CanWEA Panel Review is quoted as
stating “… there was no doubt people living near the turbines suffered a range of
symptoms, including abnormal heart beats, sleep disturbance, headaches,
tinnitus, nausea, visual blurring, panic attacks and general irritability.…it’s ruining
their lives – and it’s genuine…”.8
In a communication to Stantec it states “Health Canada advises…that there are
peer-reviewed scientific articles indicating that wind turbines may have an
adverse impact on human health.”9
Three peer reviewed studies of European industrial wind turbine facilities have
documented high annoyance and sleep disturbance in respondents.10,11,12
World Health Organization recognizes annoyance and sleep disturbance as
adverse health effects. 13
In 2009 World Health Organization released a 184 page peer reviewed summary
of research regarding the risks to human health from noise induced sleep
disturbance. Some of the adverse health effect documented in the report include
poor performance at work, fatigue, memory difficulties, concentration problems,
motor vehicle accidents, mood disorders (depression, anxiety), alcohol and other
substance abuse, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal,
musculoskeletal disorders, obesity, impaired immune system function and a
reported increased risk of mortality.14
The A/CanWEA Panel Review acknowledges that wind turbine low frequency
noise may cause annoyance.15
Some of the documented effects of low frequency noise annoyance include task
performance deterioration, reduced wakefulness, sleep disturbance, headaches,
and irritation.16
“Unlike higher frequency noise issues, LFN is very difficult to suppress. Closing
doors and windows in an attempt to diminish the effects sometimes makes it
worse because of the propagation characteristics and the low-pass filtering effect
of structures. Individuals often become irrational and anxious as attempts to
control LFN fail, serving only to increase the individual’s awareness of the noise,
accelerating the above symptoms”17
The NASA Technical paper “Wind Turbine Acoustics” states “People who are
exposed to wind turbine noise inside buildings experience a much different
acoustic environment than do those outside….They may actually be more
disturbed by the noise inside their homes than the would be outside….One of the
common ways that a person might sense the noise-induced excitation of a house
is though structural vibrations. This mode of observation is particularly significant
at low frequencies, below the threshold of normal hearing.”18
Geoff Leventhall one of the authors of the A/CanWEA Panel Review
acknowledges the serious nature of low frequency noise induced annoyance by
asserting “The claim that their “lives have been ruined” by the noise is not an
exaggeration…”19

In a 2009 article the UK National Health Service stated “…it is physically and
biologically plausible that low frequency noise generated by wind turbines can
affect people…” 20
Stantec in a 2009 Environmental Review Report for a wind turbine project stated
regarding wind turbines and adverse health effects “It is acknowledged that LFN
(low frequency noise) may be one area of scientific uncertainty in the wind
industry as a whole.” and that that regarding infrasound “it is recognized that this
be an area of scientific uncertainty.”21
The Canadian Wind Energy Association claims that wind turbine “installations
meet strict government regulations with respect to sound”22 but at the same time
acknowledges that noise modelling typically used does not purport to consider
worst case and that actual noise levels may exceed that predicted.23
According to the Ontario Ministry of Environment “There is currently no
scientifically accepted field methodology to measure wind turbine noise to
determine compliance or non compliance with a Certificate of Approval limits.”24
In most jurisdictions there is no requirement for the wind energy industry to
monitor or address for wind turbine low frequency noise.
The World Health Organization states:
“The precautionary principle. In all cases noise should be reduced to the lowest
level achievable in a particular situation. When there is a reasonable possibility
that the public health will be endangered, even though scientific proof may be
lacking, action should be take to protect the public health, without awaiting the
full scientific proof.”25

To view references and learn more visit The Society for Wind Vigilance at www.windvigilance.com

The adverse health impact of industrial wind turbines on human health is a worldwide concern. It is time for governments to acknowledge the harm being done to people living near wind turbine installations. Their refusal to support independent 3rd party health studies is unconscionable. Many are calling for a public inquiry. More studies are required to determine what the safe setback distance should be. A moratorium on new industrial wind turbine development and close survillance of current installations represents an appropriate response to the current situation.

Here is a brochure about the call for health studies – print one off and pass it out!