The AWEA Blog: Into the Wind


Does the sound of money soothe Wind Turbine Syndrome?

Posted: 2011-04-25 Tom Gray

That's the provocative suggestion of Australian Simon Chapman, a professor of public health at the University of Sydney, whose recent opinion column effectively demolishes the claim of Dr. Nina Pierpont, a pediatrician, that wind turbine sound is responsible for an ill-defined and poorly documented ailment she calls Wind Turbine Syndrome.

Prof. Chapman lists the gaping holes in Dr. Pierpont's research--holes that would disqualify her work from serious attention were it not for the many individuals and groups casting about for some reason--any reason--to argue against wind power other than its appearance.  And he cites the findings of a recent Dutch study, which include the following quotes:

"[P]eople who benefit economically from wind turbines have a significantly decreased risk of annoyance, despite exposure to similar sound levels," and

"Annoyance was strongly correlated with a negative attitude toward the visual impact of wind turbines on the landscape."

Adds Prof. Chapman, "In the September 21, 1899 issue of the British Medical Journal, Britain’s doctors were warned of the dangers of a new technological scourge: the telephone."  The medical symptoms described by those afflicted sound somewhat similar to some of the multitude attributed by Dr. Pierpont to wind turbines.

Concludes Prof. Chapman, "Ever since, there has been a long history of sometimes protracted episodes of community concern about health risks said to be caused by new technologies. Some examples include television sets, computer screens, microwave ovens, electric blankets and other household electrical appliances, mobile telephones and base stations. Wind turbines seem likely to enter the annals of technophobic history."

Further reading:

WHO guidelines on sound are ... guidelines, March 28, 2011
Scientists, doctor weigh on wind and health, November 30, 2010
Wind Turbines and Health, fact sheet
Maine physician: distortion in anti-wind health claims, November 3, 2010
Australian health agency: Turbine sound has no health effect, July 6, 2010
UK report debunks wind turbine syndrome, June 9, 2010
Wind gets clean bill of health from Ontario, May 20, 2010
Expert panel concludes wind turbine sounds not harmful to human health, December 15, 2009

 


2 responses

  1. Rosa G. April 25, 2011 11:07AM
    In fact, Pierpont beat him to the punch, having specifically analyzed the van den Berg et al. paper in her book (pp. 111-118). First thing, it is not a medical survey, and none of the authors is a physician. Second, only 26% of the turbines were 1.5 MW or above, and 66% of them were smaller than 1 MW. Only 9% of the respondents lived with an estimated noise level from the turbines of more than 45 dB outside the home. Nevertheless, they found a substantial level of sleep disturbance and annoyance.
  2. Mike Barnard April 25, 2011 10:45AM
    That's a three year old study they're quoting. Project WINDFARMperception: Visual and acoustic impact of wind turbine farms on residents June 2, 2008 by van den Berg, Pedersen, Bouma, and Bakker. van den Berg has been researching the impacts of wind noise for years. The papers are well worth reading. Amusingly, both anti-wind and pro-wind advocacy organizations cite his work. Cheers, Mike

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