Robert J McCunney1, Kenneth A Mundt, W David Colby, Robert Dobie, Kenneth Kaliski, Mark Blais. 1. From the Department of Biological Engineering (Dr McCunney), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge; Department of Epidemiology (Dr Mundt), Environ International, Amherst, Mass; Travel Immunization Clinic (Dr Colby), Middlesex-London Health Unit, London, Ontario, Canada; Dobie Associates (Dr Dobie), San Antonio, Tex; Environment, Energy and Acoustics (Mr Kaliski), Resource Systems Group, White River Junction, Vt; and Psychological Evaluation and Research Laboratory (Dr Blais), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This review examines the literature related to health effects of wind turbines. METHODS: We reviewed literature related to sound measurements near turbines, epidemiological and experimental studies, and factors associated with annoyance. RESULTS: (1) Infrasound sound near wind turbines does not exceed audibility thresholds. (2) Epidemiological studies have shown associations between living near wind turbines and annoyance. (3) Infrasound and low-frequency sound do not present unique health risks. (4) Annoyance seems more strongly related to individual characteristics than noise from turbines. DISCUSSION: Further areas of inquiry include enhanced noise characterization, analysis of predicted noise values contrasted with measured levels postinstallation, longitudinal assessments of health pre- and postinstallation, experimental studies in which subjects are "blinded" to the presence or absence of infrasound, and enhanced measurement techniques to evaluate annoyance.
OBJECTIVE: This review examines the literature related to health effects of wind turbines. METHODS: We reviewed literature related to sound measurements near turbines, epidemiological and experimental studies, and factors associated with annoyance. RESULTS: (1) Infrasound sound near wind turbines does not exceed audibility thresholds. (2) Epidemiological studies have shown associations between living near wind turbines and annoyance. (3) Infrasound and low-frequency sound do not present unique health risks. (4) Annoyance seems more strongly related to individual characteristics than noise from turbines. DISCUSSION: Further areas of inquiry include enhanced noise characterization, analysis of predicted noise values contrasted with measured levels postinstallation, longitudinal assessments of health pre- and postinstallation, experimental studies in which subjects are "blinded" to the presence or absence of infrasound, and enhanced measurement techniques to evaluate annoyance.
Authors: David S Michaud; Katya Feder; Stephen E Keith; Sonia A Voicescu; Leonora Marro; John Than; Mireille Guay; Allison Denning; Brian J Murray; Shelly K Weiss; Paul J Villeneuve; Frits van den Berg; Tara Bower Journal: Sleep Date: 2016-01-01 Impact factor: 5.849
Authors: Bożena Mroczek; Joanna Banaś; Małgorzata Machowska-Szewczyk; Donata Kurpas Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2015-05-29 Impact factor: 3.390