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Noise and health: Why do some people feel the "harm" of wind power generation
As the global demand for renewable energy increases, wind power generation has become one of the key measures for many countries to reduce carbon emissions. However, at the same time, the emergence of wind turbines has also sparked a lot of discussion about their possible negative impacts on human health. In particular, in some areas, some people have linked being too close to wind turbines to a variety of health problems, forming the so-called "wind turbine syndrome." This concept has aroused widespread attention and debate. What is the truth behind it?
"Wind turbine syndrome" is a hypothetical medical condition resulting from proximity to wind turbines, with various symptoms associated that are not supported by scientific evidence.
According to some claims, the syndrome may cause birth defects, cancer, vertigo, nausea, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, death, tinnitus, stress, fatigue, memory loss, migraines, and sleep deprivation And many other health problems. However, these claims lack scientific support, and to date no international disease classification system recognizes such symptoms as formal medical conditions.
In contrast, 25 literature reviews on wind turbines and their health effects have been published since 2003. These studies consistently conclude that there is no reason to believe that wind turbines pose a health risk.
In 2012, a panel of experts commissioned by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection concluded: "There is no association between wind turbine noise and psychological distress or mental health problems."
Despite this, some people still believe that low-frequency sounds, known as infrasound, may trigger symptoms such as tinnitus, stress and memory loss. The source of this unease may come from the perception of noise rather than the wind turbines themselves. For example, a 2009 Canadian team study noted that only a minority of respondents reported experiencing irritation and stress due to noise, but they stated that "irritation is not a disease."
Therefore, experts suggest that more attention should be paid to the overall environmental factors of the community, including traffic noise and industrial operations, rather than responding to the noise of wind turbines alone. A 2011 literature review also suggested that health effects reported by people living near wind turbines may be more likely to be due to "physical manifestations of irritation states."
In terms of policy, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in Canada has established noise guidelines that limit the noise level of wind turbines 30 meters from homes or camping sites to 40 decibels (dB(A)). In New South Wales, Australia, it is recommended that wind turbines be kept at least two kilometres from neighbouring homes, although this measure can be exempted by affected neighbours.
Despite a lack of scientific evidence proving that wind turbines cause health effects, the Australian government appointed a wind farm commissioner in 2015 to handle complaints.
In terms of noise mitigation, modern wind turbines generate significantly less noise than earlier designs. Since noise means energy loss, designers are also working to reduce noise in an attempt to improve the efficiency of wind power generation. However, there remains an unproven belief that low-frequency noise cannot be mitigated and may have wider impacts.
A French court recently awarded compensation to a Belgian couple who lived close to six wind turbines and suffered health problems from the constant noise and flickering lights, including headaches, insomnia and heart irregularities. They successfully brought lawsuits against several companies and were awarded €110,000 in damages.
Overall, research on the health effects of wind power remains a controversial and complex issue. As the number of wind turbines grows, concerns about their possible health effects remain. While pursuing renewable energy, should people also take into account the mental health of the relevant society?
