There is “No Evidence” that Wind Turbine Syndrome Exists, Concludes Expert Panel
"There is “No Evidence” that Wind Turbine Syndrome Exists, Concludes Expert Panel"
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by Zachary Rybarczyk and Stephen Lacey
If we want wind to continue growing, more turbines will need to be placed in our communities and close to our backyards. And that will inevitably cause more social friction.
Wind supporters cannot discount concerns from local residents about noise and visual impact. With proper communication between developers and communities, many of the potential conflicts can be mitigated or avoided.
But there’s a huge difference between concerns of neighbors to wind projects and the faux medical conditions pushed by advocates who claim turbines are a serious threat to human health.
Although no conclusive research has shown that wind farms cause health problems, many anti-wind groups have pushed the idea that “Wind Turbine Syndrome” is a widespread problem – elevating legitimate siting concerns to scare tactics.
A new study released this week by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection finds that “there is no evidence for a set of health effects…that could be characterized as ‘Wind Turbine Syndrome.’” The supposed health impacts pushed by wind opponents include mental health problems, heart disease and vertigo.
The Department’s Panel was comprised of independent experts in a range of fields associated with the possible health impact of exposure to wind turbines. They explored scientific literature, reports, popular media and public comments and concluded that there was no scientific basis for claims about Wind Turbine Syndrome:
Chart courtesy of Plymouth Daily News
While the panel recommended more research on the impact of “very loud turbines” that could disrupt sleep patterns of some individuals (even though they write that a “‘very quiet wind turbine’ would not likely disrupt even ‘the lightest of sleepers’ at that same distance”), the researchers debunk the broad-based claims about Wind Turbine Syndrome:
There is insufficient evidence that the noise from wind turbines is directly… causing health problems or disease. Claims that infrasound from wind turbines directly impacts the vestibular system have not been demonstrated scientifically. Available evidence shows that the infrasound levels near wind turbines cannot impact the vestibular system.
The study failed to produce any concrete evidence that “flicker” caused by the shadows of rotating blades causes epileptic seizure, or that turbines cause “pain and stiffness, diabetes, high blood pressure, tinnitus, hearing impairment, cardiovascular disease, [or] headache/migraine.”
The researchers concluded that the most dangerous problem in Massachusetts was from ice falling off turbines.
Zachary Rybarczyk is an intern on the energy team at the Center for American Progress. Stephen Lacey is a writer with Climate Progress.
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why are people even investigating this?
have None of these people ever been to Denmark? it’s almost impossible to be anywhere in the country and not see modern windmills, and it has been this way for many years, and these complaints would be met with hilarious laughter.
is nothing done anywhere else valid?
“Wind Turbine Syndrome”?
Sounds like another BigPharma created disease to push more pills on the population.
Bruce J.
Pardon me if you were speaking tongue-in-cheek, but I’m pretty sure it didn’t mean the most serious health problem in New England was from ice falling from wind turbines but that other health problems associated with wind turbines were so minimal that falling ice was the most serious one ASSOCIATED WITH WIND TURBINES. I’m sure it is in no way anwyhere near remotely as serious a problem as death and disease caused by coal burning, car accidents and fumes, fracking effects and other health conditions associated with fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
No matter what we do some effects are caused. Wind turbines seem like one of the most benign inventions in history, probably causing health problems on about the same scale as bagel-cutters and vending machines (not the food in them, which has serious health effects; just the machines themselves).
Ice forms and falls off natural and build structures e.g. trees and houses.
Stopping windmills turning will not stop falling ice.
Only not building the windmills will prevent ice forming and then falling off.
A better solution is to train locals and the engineers to avoid walking near turbines during a thaw. We already know to avoid the sides of tall buildings during a thaw.
Maybe this will help the folks get those New England wind projects off the ground… it’s been what, 10 years for the ones out in Savoy and Ashfield, and still more appeals yet to go. It’s not a good sign for an industry that must expand and use its energy generated per sq ft of footprint power.
It’s been exported to Oz as well – women weeping about how they are so sick, they can’t look after their kids properly, families moving etc – and absolutely no evidence found anywhere! It’s a deliberate campaign targetting those vulnerable to suggestion, ME
Meanwhile costly damage to human health and the environment from fossile fuel use is extensively proven and documented.
Somewhat off topic: An amazingly accurate discussion of many aspects of XL Pipeline relative to renewables from Reuters. Is the MSM finally going beyond he said she said? They actually bring up :”he said” and give facts that refute it.
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2012/01/19/keystone-xls-organizing-principle/
How Ironic. Kinda reminds me of the inaccessible east block “studies” and non peer review stuff from Greenpeace and anti nuclear movement.
Why are you all for poisoning babies with your wind power?