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Wind-turbine noise: What audiologists should know 

Author:  | Health, Noise, Technology

Most of us would agree that the modern wind turbine is a desirable alternative for producing electrical energy. one of the most highly touted ways to meet a federal mandate that 20 percent of all energy must come from renewable sources by 2020 is to install large numbers of utility-scale wind turbines. Evidence has been mounting over the past decade, however, that these utility-scale wind turbines produce significant levels of low-frequency noise and vibration that can be highly disturbing to nearby residents.

None of these unwanted emissions, whether audible or inaudible, are believed to cause hearing loss, but they are widely known to cause sleep disturbances. Inaudible components can induce resonant vibration in solids, liquids, and gases—including the ground, houses, and other building structures, spaces within those structures, and bodily tissues and cavities—that is potentially harmful to humans. The most extreme of these low-frequency (infrasonic) emissions, at frequencies under about 16 Hz, can easily penetrate homes. Some residents perceive the energy as sound, others experience it as vibration, and others are not aware of it at all. Research is beginning to show that, in addition to sleep disturbances, these emissions may have other deleterious consequences on health. It is for these reasons that wind turbines are becoming an important community health issue, especially when hosted in quiet rural communities that have no prior experience with industrial noise or urban hum.

The people most susceptible to disturbances caused by wind turbines may be a small percentage of the total exposed population, but for them the introduction of wind turbines in their communities is not something to which they can easily become acclimated. Instead, they become annoyed, uncomfortable, distressed, or ill. This problem is increasing as newer utility-scale wind turbines capable of generating 1.5-5 MWatts of electricity or more replace the older turbines used over the past 30 years, which produced less than 1 MWatt of power. These large wind turbines can have hub heights that span the length of a football field and blade lengths that span half that distance. The increased size of these multi-MWatt turbines, especially the blades, has been associated with complaints of adverse health effects that cannot be explained by auditory responses alone.

For this article, we reviewed the English-language, peer-reviewed literature from around the world on the topic of wind-turbine noise and vibration and their effects on humans. In addition, we used popular search engines to locate relevant online trade journals, books, reference sources, government regulations, and acoustic and vibration standards. We also consulted professional engineers and psychoacousticians regarding their unpublished ideas and research. …

Audiology Today, Jul-Aug 2010

Download original document: “Wind-turbine noise: What audiologists should know

This material is the work of the author(s) indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this material resides with the author(s). As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Queries e-mail.

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