Page 27 - Volume 9, Issue 3

years of study, no one knows exactly what causes motion sickness or why some people are more affected than others. In the following, we show that it appears to be possible that an acoustic wave at 0.5 to 0.7 Hz can generate a similar signal in the brain as the signal generated by an acceleration at 0.5 Hz. We do not expect any time soon to be able to pre- dict who will and who will not be affected by low- frequency wind turbine emissions or the mecha- nism by which they occur any more than we can predict who is affected by motion sickness and who is not, and the mechanism by which people are affected by motion sickness. What we can show is that it appears quite possible for the acoustic emis- sions from wind turbines to produce this effect in some people. The following discussion analyzes the linear motion sensing function of the ear, and explains how the ear could respond to wind turbine emissions.
Thus, it appears that the observation that the symptoms of “wind turbine syndrome” are like those of seasickness appear to have some basis in fact. Another paper, by William Palmer9 of Ontario, Canada, presented a study of observations by cit- izens after four years of operation of a wind power develop- ment. The citizens’ observations were from the Ministry of the Environment:
• The sound of the turbines comes through the pillow. Sleep is disrupted 50% of the time. It is a roaring freight train going through our home. Electrical issues have been noted in the home.
• The noise level is very high and sleeping is a problem. The home vibrates. One member has developed headaches, dizziness and light-headedness. The quiet country property is now completely changed by indoor and outdoor noise; sleep deprivation, flicker, and disturbing health symptoms that did not exist before.
• Jim (not real name) often sits up all night and cannot sleep. He has taken dizzy spells and is prone to falling. He has become forgetful and disorganized. When away, he sleeps like before, but on returning home the problems recur. The complaint protocol has been of no help in resolving the issue.
• Since the turbines started, she is tired all the time, and never feels rested and relaxed. Her husband has headaches frequently now, but never had them before. Teenaged children are constantly tired and have headaches that go away when away from the home.
• She finds her body began to vibrate with the onset of the turbines, has developed ringing in the ears, loss of concentration and heart palpitations. Up two or three times a night due to sleep disruption. Son gets sharp spiking headaches.
• Noted sound increase inside and outside home. Headaches, taken to spending time in the basement for respite. Headaches leave when away from home, but developed nausea and lowered appetite. Up half the night tossing and turning, and walking around
due to the noise.
• Need to have television volume up higher to mask the
whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Developed ringing in ears and chest tension. Work difficulties resulted in loss of regular employment. Fears going to a doctor as he might take away driving license – tired and fall asleep at the wheel. Would lose my job and then our home.
• Sleep deprivation, headaches, and sensation in ears, pressure in head, restlessness, nausea, and motion sensitivity. All developed over time. Can no longer work. Nausea, lost weight, migraines.
• Pain in ears, toss and turn at night, sleep disturbed. Senses vibration in body when at home. Removed ability to enjoy their property.
• Flicker, noise, vibration in their bodies. Migraines, blood pressure problems. Stress. Tinnitus.
• Sleep disturbance, headaches, tinnitus, and stomach upset.
• Child tired, irritable, complains head hurts and tummy hurts. Home is a nightmare. Symptoms did not exist before turbines include headaches, dizziness, pressure in ears, sleep disruption, tingling in head and face. Increased confusion, irritability. Mental instabil- ity. Visitor taken to hospital with vertigo. Family member with stroke like symptoms.
• Flicker, electrical interference that did not exist before. Complaint protocol ineffective.
• No longer live in home – walked away. Migraines sleep disruption, vibration. Tried to sell property — no offers. Bank foreclosed — lost home.
• Vertigo, unless away from home.
In four of the homes on the list, a family mem-
ber died from a sudden cardiac arrest, unexpected- ly, and traumatically. These families grieve, and we can only speak for them. One person in her 30s, one in his 50s, who reported not a week before his death that his health was not impacted, and two in their sixties who died unexpectedly. No, there is not “direct” proof to link these deaths to wind tur- bines, but the frequency exceed provincial average, and begs a detailed evaluation of all deaths sur- rounding turbines.
The homes investigated in Kincardine had nearest turbines between 453 and 1848 meters. The closest had up to 18 tur- bines within 2000 meters. The calculated levels were within the 40 dBA required by the applicable Canadian standard. In Ontario, the wind turbine capacity has gone from 15 MW in 2003 to about 1700 MW at the end of 2012. Projects in Ontario are expected to grow to 5810 MW by 2015.
Health Study — Canada
There is a study going on in Canada to assess the health impacts of wind turbine noise. Its design10 was reported at Inter-Noise 2012 in New York City. Excerpting from that paper:
The study will be conducted on a sample of 2000 dwellings randomly selected from those locat- ed near 8 to 12 WT installations in Canada.
26 Acoustics Today, July 2013