Three Studies Update IWT Health Effects

As turbine neighbors face courts and town boards with accounts of their experiences and worries, they have solid ground to stand on with three scholarly studies on wind turbine health effects appearing in 2012:

• 2012. Ambrose, S., Rand, R., and Krogh, C. “Wind turbine acoustic investigation: infrasound and low frequency noise – A case study.” Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society 32(2) 128-141. 2012. [abstract only available]

The DEP-DPH “expert panel” called the preliminary Ambrose and Rand McPherson 2011 study “gray literature.” Now the authors have a peer-reviewed study with Carmen Krogh added as a third author for her expertise in the health impacts. The earlier preliminary study is: Ambrose, S.E. & Rand R. W., (2011, December). The Bruce McPherson Infrasound and Low Frequency Noise Study: Adverse Health Effects Produced By Large Industrial Wind Turbines Confirmed.

• 2012. Nissenbaum, M., Aramini, J., and Hanning, C. “Effects of industrial wind turbine noise on sleep and health.” Noise & Health 14 (60) 237-243. 2012. [full text]

 The earlier preliminary study reviewed by the DEP/DPH panel was Nissenbaum, M., Aramini, J., & Hanning, C. (2011). Adverse health effects of industrial wind turbines: a preliminary report. Paper presented at the 10^th International Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem (ICBEN) London, UK.

• 2012. Alec N. Salt and Jeffrey T. Lichtenhan. “Perception-based protection from low-frequency sounds may not be enough.” Internoise 2012. August 19-22, 2012.

Dr. Alec Salt’s work presented at the 2012 Internoise Conference is providing new research subsequent to earlier peer-reviewed work: Salt, A.N. & Kaltenbach, J.A., “Infrasound from wind turbines could affect humans,” Bulletin of Science Technology & Society, August 2011 vol. 31 no. 4 pages 296-302.

Peer review is an important and necessary process for the scientific community. The process verifies that research findings have been based on sound principles. As scientists continue to publish, they build on previous studies, so these should be retained while the newest research should be prominent.

While the science related to human impacts from wind turbines is just developing, the “new experts”–those who live, work, and study in proximity to wind turbines continue to be unwitting experimental subjects. Their testimony of what they hear, experience, and suffer informs us of unintended health impacts.