Resource Library Category: Massachusetts (21 items)
Documents presented here are not the product of nor are they necessarily endorsed by National Wind Watch. This resource library is provided to assist anyone wishing to research the issue of industrial wind power and the impacts of its development. The information should be evaluated by each reader to come to their own conclusions about the many areas of debate.
Re: Wind Turbine Health Impact Study: Report of Independent Expert Panel
Source: Krogh, Carmen
The purpose of this letter is to respond to the Wind Turbine Health Impact Study: Report of Independent Expert Panel of January 2012 that was prepared for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
I would like to share excerpts from Ontario, Canada experiences regarding the serious risks to health that can occur when industrial wind turbines are sited in close proximity to residents.
As background, I have held senior executive positions at a teaching hospital, a professional organization and Health Canada (PMRA). I am a former Director of Publications and Editor in Chief of the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties (CPS), the book used by physicians, nurses, and health professionals for prescribing information in Canada.
Contact with those experiencing adverse health effects which correlated with the onset of industrial wind turbine operations, inspired my research on the topic.
I volunteer my time and expenses, self support research and other activities such as education regarding the science related to wind turbine health effects. Some of my activities include meeting with authorities, locally, provincially and federally.
A colleague and I initiated a self reporting health survey in March 2009. WindVOiCe (Wind Vigilance for Ontario Communities) follows the principles for Health Canada’s Canada Vigilance Programs for self reporting suspected adverse events for prescription and consumer products, vaccines and other. The results of this research have been published in a special edition of a peer reviewed scientific journal. [1]
I have also researched societal impacts relating to this topic. This article has also been published in a peer reviewed journal. [2]
Based on several years of investigation: “My research demonstrates that IWTs were initially welcomed into communities. The reported adverse impacts were unexpected …” and “In addition to physiological and psychological symptoms there are individuals reporting adverse impacts, including reduced well-being, degraded living conditions, and adverse societal and economic impacts. These adverse impacts culminate in expressions of a loss of fairness and social justice.” [3]
Several months after the publication of my article, Shepherd et al noted:
“… wind turbines were initially welcomed by many communities due to their environmental credentials …”
“… residents living within 2 km of a turbine installation reporting lower overall quality of life, physical quality of life, and environmental quality of life. Those exposed to turbine noise also reported significantly lower sleep quality …” [4]
Quality of life and social well being are important health considerations. I have found the stressors occurring within the home and community environment as the result of a change in the environment, e.g. industrial wind turbines, are contributing to adverse health effects. To date, there is no mitigation available to those suffering.
There is ample evidence regarding the health risks associated with industrial wind turbines.
In 2009 The American Wind Energy Association and Canadian Wind Energy Association funded experts to conduct a literature review which explicitly identifies a causal link (through annoyance) to the reported adverse health effects.
The authors of the industry convened report determined the documented “wind turbine syndrome“ symptoms (sleep disturbance, headache, tinnitus, ear pressure, dizziness, vertigo, nausea, visual blurring, tachycardia, irritability, problems with concentration and memory, and panic episodes associated with sensations of internal pulsation or quivering when awake or asleep are symptoms) “are not new and have been published previously in the context of “annoyance”” and are the “well-known stress effects of exposure to noise”. [5]
This acknowledgement cannot be ignored.
Peer reviewed studies consistently acknowledge wind turbine noise is perceived to be more annoying than transportation noise or industrial noise at comparable sound pressure levels. [6]
Now that the experts funded by members of the wind industry have identified a causal link steps must be taken to ensure these health outcomes are avoided.
Three of the authors of this industry report testified at an Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal which was conducted under oath. 26 expert witnesses from around the world testified (10 Appellants, 16 Respondents – Ministry of Environment and Suncor Inc developer). The evidence and testimony of this tribunal is further evidence that wind turbines can harm human health.
An Ontario Freedom of Information request and peer reviewed articles published during 2011 should also be considered.
I have attached legal opinions and citations regarding the evidence including a summary which I presented to the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, October 18, 2011.
The Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal Decision, July 18, 2011, stated:
“This case has successfully shown that the debate should not be simplified to one about whether wind turbines can cause harm to humans. The evidence presented to the Tribunal demonstrates that they can, if facilities are placed too close to residents. The debate has now evolved to one of degree.” [7]
A Freedom of Information request from the Ontario Ministry of Environment notes:
“It appears compliance with the minimum setbacks and the noise study approach currently being used to approve the siting of WTGs will result or likely result in adverse effects …” [MOE memorandum, Ontario Senior Environmental Officer, April 9, 2010]
The Ontario Ministry of Environment documents are available at www.windyleaks.com
I note that the Wind Turbine Sound and Health Effects – An Expert Panel Review – December 2009 states that: wind turbine sound/noise may cause annoyance (p. 5-3), stress (p. 4-3, 4-10) and sleep disturbance (p. 4-3), which may have other consequences (p. 4-3, 4-10) [8] Annoyance may seem of little consequence in everyday language; however, in clinical terms it has negative health consequences. The term annoyance is acknowledged as an adverse health effect.
The indirect pathway is often given a low priority regarding this topic. The Environmental Review Tribunal expressed concerns with respect to The Potential Health Impact of Wind Turbines (Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) Ontario Report) – May 2010.
“… about the Director’s apparent lack of consideration of indirect health effects and the need for further work on the MOE’s practice of precaution …” [9]
To better understand the importance of the indirect pathway, please note the World Health Organization noise schema below. Symptoms being reported are through the indirect pathway. Testimony under oath during the Environmental Review Tribunal acknowledged that the indirect pathway was not considered by the CMOH. [10]
Statements indicating there is no evidence of a “direct” causal link may be accurate but is also an incomplete assessment of the health risks. The indirect pathway of noise annoyance, sleep disturbance and stress leads to consequences (cardiac). When one focuses on “direct” effect one omits consideration of an equally significant part of the health equation ie indirect effects.
Some have referenced that World Health Organization Noise Guidelines (2009) recommend a 40 dB noise level for industrial wind turbines; however, this is an incorrect interpretation of these guidelines. The WHO guidelines are based on road, rail and air craft noise, not on industrial wind turbine noise. Peer reviewed research has shown wind turbine noise is more annoying than these three types of noise at comparable sound levels. Therefore the premise of 40 dB applying to wind turbines is not justified – research [11] and MOE field officer [12] propose 30 to 32 dB.
To conclude, a December 2010 report commissioned by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and submitted as evidence during the Environmental Review Tribunal and just recently released by the Ministry notes:
“The audible sound from wind turbines, at the levels experienced at typical receptor distances in Ontario, is nonetheless expected to result in a non-trivial percentage of persons being highly annoyed. As with sounds from many sources, research has shown that annoyance associated with sound from wind turbines can be expected to contribute to stress related health impacts in some persons.” [13]
This report also states
“Stress symptoms associated with noise annoyance, and in particular low frequency annoyance, include sleep interference, headaches, poor concentration, mood swings …” [14]
During 2011, there has been significant progress in acknowledging the harm that can occur when industrial wind turbines are sited too close to residents.
Consideration should be given to recent Australian movements towards a minimum 2 km setback (see Senate slides attached for references). Furthermore in January 2012 the National Health and Medical Research Council reaffirmed their position that authorities are instructed to maintain a precautionary approach for this issue.
Social well-being is acknowledged to be a determinant of health: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (World Health Organization [WHO], 1948). Many jurisdictions, including the Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial governments and health officials have accepted WHO’s definition of health (Health Canada, 2004, vol. 1, p. 1-1).” [15]
I am not certain whether jurisdictions in the United States of America have accepted the WHO definition; however, it is widely accepted that social, physical and mental health should be evaluated when assessing adverse health effects.
The symptoms have been acknowledged through testimony under oath, and / or disclosure evidence and/or witness statements and through other references as briefly provided in this letter.
There are some research gaps regarding the mechanism and the siting distances and noise levels that will protect human health.
To conclude: “In all cases, noise should be reduced to the lowest level achievable in a particular situation. Where there is a reasonable possibility that public health will be damaged, action should be taken to protect public health without awaiting full scientific proof.” [16]
I believe we are at the stage where public health officials must acknowledge there are some suffering from exposure to industrial wind turbines. Furthermore it is time to move beyond repetitive literature reviews. There is an urgent need to conduct the research to determine the siting parameters including setback distances and noise levels to ensure protection of health.
~~~
January 19, 2012
Ms Carmen Krogh, BScPharm
Ontario, Canada
krogh/email.toast.net
[1] Krogh, CME, Gillis, L, Kouwen, N, and Aramini, J, (2011), WindVOiCe, a Self-Reporting Survey: Adverse Health Effects, Industrial Wind Turbines, and the Need for Vigilance Monitoring, Bulletin of Science Technology & Society 2011 31: 334, DOI: 10.1177/0270467611412551, http://bst.sagepub.com/content/31/4/334
[2] Krogh, CME, (2011), Industrial Wind Turbine Development and Loss of Social Justice? Bulletin of Science Technology & Society 2011 31: 321, DOI: 10.1177/0270467611412550, http://bst.sagepub.com/content/31/4/321
[3] Krogh, CME, (2011), Industrial Wind Turbine Development and Loss of Social Justice? Bulletin of Science Technology & Society 2011 31: 321, DOI: 10.1177/0270467611412550, http://bst.sagepub.com/content/31/4/321
[4] Evaluating the impact of wind turbine noise on health-related quality of life by Daniel Shepherd, David McBride, David Welch, Kim N. Dirks, Erin M. Hill. Noise & Health, September-October 2011, 13:54,333-9
[5] Colby, W. D., Dobie, R., Leventhall, G., Lipscomb, D. M., McCunney, R. J., Seilo, M. T., & Søndergaard, B. (2009). Wind turbine sound and health effects: An expert panel review 2009. Prepared for American Wind Energy Association and Canadian Wind Energy Association. http://www.canwea .ca/pdf/talkwind/Wind_Turbine_Sound_and_Health_Effects.pdf
[6] Pedersen, E., Bakker, R., Bouma, J., & van den Berg, F. (2009), Response to noise from modern wind farms in the Netherlands, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 126, 634-643
[7] Case Nos.: 10-121/10-122 Erickson v. Director, Ministry of the Environment Environmental Review Tribunal, Decision, p 207
[8] Colby, W. D., Dobie, R., Leventhall, G., Lipscomb, D. M., McCunney, R. J., Seilo, M. T., & Søndergaard, B. (2009). Wind turbine sound and health effects: An expert panel review 2009. Prepared for American Wind Energy Association and Canadian Wind Energy Association. http://www.canwea .ca/pdf/talkwind/Wind_Turbine_Sound_and_Health_Effects.pdf
[9] Case Nos.: 10-121/10-122 Erickson v. Director, Ministry of the Environment Environmental Review Tribunal, Decision, p 206
[10] Case Nos.: 10-121/10-122 Erickson v. Director, Ministry of the Environment Transcript of Dr. G. Rachamin, Mar, 4, 2011 [1] p. 211, [2] p. 216
[11] Thorne, B, (2011), The Problems With ”Noise Numbers” for Wind Farm Noise Assessment, Bulletin of Science Technology & Society 2011 31: 262, DOI: 10.1177/0270467611412557, http://bst.sagepub.com/content/31/4/262
[12] MOE memorandum, Ontario Senior Environmental Officer, April 9, 2010
[13] HGC (2010) Low frequency Noise and Infrasound Associated with Wind Turbine Generation Systems, A Literature Review, Ontario Ministry of Environment RFP December 2010
[14] HGC (2010) Low frequency Noise and Infrasound Associated with Wind Turbine Generation Systems, A Literature Review, Ontario Ministry of Environment RFP December 2010
[15] World Health Organization. (1948). Preamble to the constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the InternationalHealth Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official records of theWorld Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on7 April 1948. Cited Krogh, CME, (2011), Industrial Wind Turbine Development and Loss of Social Justice? Bulletin of Science Technology & Society 2011 31: 321, DOI: 10.1177/0270467611412550, http://bst.sagepub.com/content/31/4/321
[16] World Health Organization. (1999). Guidelines for community noise. Geneva; OMS, 1999, p 94. Ilus, Berglund, B., Lindvall, T., and Schwela, D. H.
To:
Jeffrey M. Ellenbogen, MD; MMSc Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School Division Chief, Sleep Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital jeffrey_ellenbogen@hms.harvard.edu
Sheryl Grace, PhD; MS Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University sgrace@bu.edu
Wendy J Heiger-Bernays, PhD Associate Professor of Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health Chair, Lexington Board of Health Email unavailable
James F. Manwell, PhD Mechanical Engineering; MS Electrical & Computer Engineering; BA Biophysics Professor and Director of the Wind Energy Center, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering University of Massachusetts, Amherst manwell@ecs.umass.edu
Dora Anne Mills, MD, MPH, FAAP State Health Officer, Maine 1996–2011 Vice President for Clinical Affairs, University of New England Email unavailable
Kimberly A. Sullivan, PhD Research Assistant Professor of Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health Email unavailable
Marc G. Weisskopf, ScD Epidemiology; PhD Neuroscience Associate Professor of Environmental Health and Epidemiology Department of Environmental Health & Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health mweissko@hsph.harvard.edu
Copy:
Susan L. Santos, PhD, FOCUS GROUP Risk Communication and Environmental Management Consultants info@focusgroupconsulting.com
Wind Turbine Health Impact Study Is Junk Science
Source: Hartman, Raymond
[Wind Turbine Health Impact Study: Report of Independent Expert Panel, January 2012, prepared for: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Department of Public Health]
Junk Science: What Is It?
“Junk science is faulty scientific data and analysis used to advance special interests and hidden agendas.”
General Examples
“Government regulators may use junk science to expand their regulatory authority, increase their budgets or advance the political agenda of elected officials.”
“Businesses may use junk science to bad-mouth competitors’ products, make bogus claims about their own products, or to promote political or social change that would increase sales and profits.”
“Politicians may use junk science to curry favor with special interest groups, to be politically correct or to advance their own personal political beliefs.”
Specific Real-World Examples
The Tobacco Research Institute
- It was funded by the big tobacco companies.
- It produced “scientific research” for 50 years or more “demonstrating” that smoking was good, or at least not bad, for people.
- Over time, as doctors and patients complained that smoking caused lung cancers and cardiovascular diseases, the Tobacco Research Institute produced more “scientific research” demonstrating that something else caused the disease.
→ The “research” was Junk Science.
→ It was untrue, manipulated and unreliable.
→ The “research” caused disease and death.
Asbestos Manufacturers
- Asbestos was used for decades in shipbuilding, construction and a variety of other trades.
- Those workers installing and working with asbestos were told for decades that research demonstrated that the workers were safe.
- Workers were not safe.
- Asbestos caused innumerable cases of cancer – mesothelioma.
- The asbestos manufacturers put forward research “demonstrating” that the cancers were not caused by the asbestos.
→ The “research” was Junk Science.
→ It was untrue, manipulated and unreliable.
Manufacturers of DDT
- DDT was first used as a pesticide in the 1940s.
- It was claimed to be a successful and safe pesticide.
- The US government began banning DDT for particular uses in the 1960s.
- It was banned outright in 1972.
→ The original “research” was Junk Science.
→ It ignored the health and environmental risks of DDT.
The Wind Turbine Health Impact Study Is Junk Science
Deval Patrick sponsored and defends the study which “found no scientific evidence or medical studies to prove that living near a wind turbine has adverse impacts on people’s health, though it acknowledged further study is needed to look at health impacts stemming from ‘annoyance’ for residents who live near turbines.” [State Capitol Briefs, Afternoon Edition, Thursday, January 19, 2012, State House News Service]
The conclusions reached by the study are utterly and profoundly dishonest.
The study is labeled a “Report of Independent Expert Panel.”
- The panel was not independent.
- Several “experts” have pro-wind industry connections. [For one important example, I understand that Dr. James Manwell’s Wind Energy Center is heavily funded by the Commonwealth. I believe that it is therefore impossible for him to offer a neutral opinion on the health effects of industrial wind turbine installations, given the Commonwealth’s obvious infatuation with wind energy.]
- The Panel is no more qualified or expert than the substantial number of opponents, including Dr. Pierpont and myself.
[NWW: Perhaps much less so — see this Jan. 28 letter running down the members of the panel.]
The Panel relies primarily on an inexplicably small number (4) of published research papers, out of 100s that are available.
- Two Swedish research papers, one Dutch research paper and one New Zealand Research paper.
- The Panel dismisses for unsupported reasons all the other studies.
- In statistical modeling, this is called “cherry picking” – choosing only those studies that support a desired conclusion.
The sizes of the wind turbines studied are quite small.
- The turbines studied were only 164-213 feet tall.
- These are much smaller than those proposed for Mount Massaemet which are nearly 500 feet tall.
- Noise effects increase with the size of the turbine blades.
The data, models and statistical analyses in these papers are flawed, in ways explicitly noted by the Panel.
- The Panel notes: “The peer-reviewed papers have weaknesses, including the cross sectional designs and sometimes quite low response rates (p. 28).”
- The Panel further notes: “The model from which this conclusion was drawn, however, imposed a linear relation on the association between noise level category and annoyance. But … it appeared that the relation might not be linear (p. 18).”
- In statistical modeling, the imposition of a linear relationship when it is invalid is called specification bias.
→ When present, the model and analysis are wrong.
→ The studies introduce a multiplicity of other possible factors, all of which interfere with properly analyzing and estimating the impact of the primary factor upon health – turbine noise.
The Panel mentions but ignores the findings of the most recent analysis by the authors of two of their chosen studies (the Swedish studies). This most recent study contradicts the Panel’s conclusions as follows [as noted explicitly by the Panel at page 19]:
- “A more intricate statistical model of the association between turbine noise levels and annoyance that used the data from both Swedish studies … suggested a significant association between noise levels and annoyance even after considering other factors.”
- Why didn’t the Panel consider this third study by the same authors, which used better analytic and statistical methods?
→ This exclusion is unprofessional, unscientific and outright dishonest.
→ This is Junk Science.
The Panel identifies the preferred type of study – time-series analyses, looking at families and households before and after the industrial turbines are put into operation → “A Before-and-After Study.”
- The Panel notes “Cross-sectional studies [which the Panel uses] lack the ability to determine the temporality of cause and effect; in the case of these kinds of studies, we cannot know whether the annoyance level was present before the wind turbines were operational from a cross sectional study design.”
- Why didn’t the Panel look at time-series experiences that have occurred in New England – Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts? [I understand that the ISO-NE seasonal-claimed capability spreadsheet identifies the following industrial wind turbine (IWT) sites which could have been used for “Before-and-After” studies: 19 IWT projects in Massachusetts; 9 IWT projects in Maine, including Mars Hill which is outside the ISO-NE area and so is not listed on the ISO's spreadsheet; 3 IWT projects in Rhode Island; 2 IWT projects in New Hampshire; and 2 IWT projects in Vermont.]
- This is the most natural set of experiments to be done and is easily available.
- Is the reason because they knew what such experiments would find – that Industrial Wind Turbines cause sleep problems and severe annoyance, leading to health problems?
The Panel does admit to finding the following:
- “Wind turbines can produce unwanted sound (referred to as noise) during operation (p. ES-4)”
- “The whooshing that is heard is NOT infrasound … [It] is at higher frequency … It is important to note then that when a complaint is tied to the thumping or whooshing that is being heard, the complaint may not be about ILFN at all even if the complaint mentions low frequency noise. Kamperman et al. (2008) state that, ‘It is not clear to us whether the complaints about ‘low frequency’ noise are about the audible low frequency part of the ‘swoosh-boom’ sound, the once-per-second amplitude modulation … of the ‘swoosh-boom’ sound, or some combination of the two (p. 13).” [Emphasis added. These are precisely the sounds described by Neil Anderson from Falmouth.]
- “Most epidemiologic literature on human response to wind turbines relates to self-reported ‘annoyance’ … (p. ES-5).”
- “A very loud wind turbine could cause disrupted sleep, particularly in vulnerable populations, at a certain distance, while a very quiet wind turbine would not likely disrupt even the lightest of sleepers at that same distance (p. ES-6).”
The Panel however concludes that there is insufficient evidence that industrial wind turbines will have any effects upon residents near the installation. It states:
- “There is limited evidence from epidemiologic studies suggesting an association between noise from wind turbines and sleep disruption. In other words, it is possible that noise from some wind turbines can cause sleep disruption. … But there is not enough evidence to provide particular sound-pressure thresholds at which wind turbines cause sleep disruption (p. ES-5 and ES-6).”
- “Whether annoyance from wind turbines leads to sleep issues or stress has not been sufficiently quantified. While not based on evidence of wind turbines, there is evidence that sleep disruption can adversely affect mood, cognitive functioning, and overall sense of health and well-being (p. ES-6).”
- “There is insufficient evidence that the noise from wind turbines is directly (i.e., independent from an effect on annoyance or sleep) causing health problems or disease (p. ES-6).”
Reflect closely on this language.
- Noise causes annoyance and disrupts sleep.
- Annoyance and sleep disruption causes stress and disease states.
- While the evidence demonstrates that industrial wind turbines cause annoyance and disrupt sleep, the Panel finds it is insufficient or an indirect cause.
- Do you believe that assertion?
The Panel’s report and conclusions are JUNK SCIENCE.
What does this mean for Shelburne?
- There will be wind turbine noise.
- Prepare yourself for the “‘swoosh-boom’ sound, the once-per-second amplitude modulation … of the ‘swoosh-boom’ sound, or some combination of the two.” [See the Impact Study, p. 13, cited above.]
- This noise will disrupt the sleep of an unknown number of Shelburne and Buckland residents.
- This noise will cause low-to-severe cases of “annoyance,” every day, every hour, every minute for an unknown number of residents.
- The non-stop annoyance and sleep disruption will cause stress and disease states for an unknown number of residents.
- This noise will affect many Shelburne residents in precisely the same fashion as has been found in Falmouth, Vinalhaven and across New England.
- Are you ready to be guinea pigs for an experiment in which we suffer the possible consequences while outside developers make hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies, and then leave town?
Raymond S. Hartman is a Shelburne resident, living in the Patten District: ‘I have a BA from Princeton University and a Masters and PhD from MIT. All of my degrees are in mathematical economics. I have been a member (Associate Professor) of the faculties of MIT, Boston University, and University of California, Berkeley. I have published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and contract research using statistical and mathematical models, methods, and data. I am currently President and Director of Greylock McKinnon Associates, an economic consulting firm specializing in analysis in support of litigation. Indeed, I regularly have testified as an expert witness on behalf of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office in a variety of matters, including the 1995-1996 tobacco litigation (the result of which the Commonwealth received billions of dollars in settlement from “Big Tobacco”); litigation against large drug companies for defrauding the Massachusetts Medicaid program (2008-2011); the restructuring of the electric power industry (1990s); and a variety of utility rate cases (2000s). Over the past 40 years, I have reviewed and responded to hundreds of “Expert Reports” like “The Wind Turbine Health Impact Study.”’
Download original document: “The Wind Turbine Health Impact Study Is Junk Science”
Nina Pierpont interviews Falmouth, Mass., wind turbine syndrome victims — September 2011
Source: Pierpont, Nina
Mark Cool: his health has been affected since a 1.65-megawatt Vestas wind turbine was activated near his home. He said it took months of headaches and other cognitive changes before he began to realize it wasn’t just him; other neighbors nearby curiously had developed odd symptoms at the same time. Dr. Pierpont asks pointed questions about his health and how his his life has changed post turbine in search of answers about the new environmental malady wind turbine syndrome.
Neil Andersen has been having a strange ailment plague him ever since a Vestas 1.65-megawatt turbine went up in his neighborhood July 2010. The interview takes place in September 2011. Neil feels the turbine is destroying his life. Dr. Pierpont inquires about his symptoms and his ability to carry on a normal life now.
Betsy Andersen has had strange symptoms plaguing her ever since a 1.65 MW Vestas wind turbine was put online near her home. Dr. Pierpont wants to find out if Betsy may be suffering from wind turbine syndrome.
Ed Hobart: his health and life have changed after a 1.65-megawatt Vestas wind turbine was installed behind his house a year ago. Mr. Hobart believes the turbine’s activity is plaguing his house with an inexplicable thump and causing a variety of health symptoms that make him feel like he has developed a disease.
Download these videos: I (Mark Cool), II (Neil Andersen), III (Betsy Andersen), IV (Ed Hobart)
Adverse health effects of industrial wind turbines: a preliminary report
Source: Nissenbaum, Michael; Aramini, Jeff; and Hanning, Chris
INTRODUCTION
Guidelines and regulations for the siting of industrial wind turbines (IWT) close to human habitation are generally predicated on the need to protect the sleep of the residents. The recommended setback distances and “safe” external noise levels make the assumptions that IWT noise can be regarded as similar to other forms of environmental noise (traffic, rail and aircraft) and is masked by ambient noise. There has been no in dependent verification that these assumptions are justified and that the safeguards are sufficient to protect sleep.
Anecdotal complaints of annoyance and health effects from IWT noise have grown in number in recent years, not least because turbine size has increased and they have been placed closer to population centers. The predominant symptom of health complaints is sleep disturbance (Frey & Hadden 2007; Pierpont 2009; van den Berg et al. 2008; WindVOICe 2010). The consequences of sleep disturbance and the contribution of environmental noise are well documented (WHO 2009).
Complaints of adverse health effects were made shortly after IWT installations at Mars Hill and Vinalhaven, Maine, USA, began operating. A preliminary survey at Mars Hill, comparing those living within 1,400 m with a control group living 3,000-6,000 m away showed that sleep disturbance was the main health effect (Nissenbaum 2011, submitted for publication). A further study was therefore carried out at both Mars Hill and Vinalhaven using validated questionnaires and comparing those living within 1.5 km of the turbines with a control group living 3,500-6,000 m away.
METHODS
General study design
A questionnaire was offered to all residents meeting inclusion criteria living within 1.5 km of an IWT and to a random sample of residents meeting inclusion criteria living 3 to 7 km from an IWT between March and July of 2010. The protocol was reviewed and approved by IRB Services, Aurora, Ontario, Canada.
Questionnaire
The questionnaire comprised validated instruments relating to mental and physical health (SF-36v2) (QualityMetric Inc.), sleep disturbance (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (Buysse et al. 1989) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) (Johns 1991), in addition to headache functional inquiry questions and a series of attitudinal questions relating specifically to changes with exposure to IWT noise. Only the results from the validated instruments are presented here.
Participant selection
The Mars Hill site is a linear arrangement of 28 General Electric 1.5 megawatt turbines, sited on a ridgeline. The Vinalhaven site is a cluster of three similar turbines, sited on a flat tree covered island. All residents living within 1.5 km of an IWT at each site were identified via tax maps, and approached either door to door or via telephone and asked to participate in the study. Homes were visited up to three times or until contact was made. Those below the age of 18 or with a diagnosed cognitive disorder were excluded. A random sample of households in a similar socioeconomic area 3 to 7 km away from IWTs at each site was chosen to participate in the study as a control group. Households were approached door-to-door until a similar number of participants were enrolled.
Data handling and validation
Questionnaire results were coded and entered into a spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel 2007). The distance from each participant’s residence to the nearest IWT was measured using satellite maps. SF36-V2 responses were processed using QualityMetric Health OutcomesTM Scoring Software 3.0 to generate Mental (MCS) and Physical (PCS) Component Scores. Missing values were verified and outliers were individually assessed. Data quality of the SF36-V2 responses was determined using QualityMetric Health OutcomesTM Scoring Software 3.0. All SF36-V2 data quality indicators (completeness, response range, consistency, estimable scale scores, internal consistency, discriminant validity, and reliable scales) exceeded parameter norms.
Statistical analysis
All analyses were performed using SAS 9.22. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the effect of the main independent variable of interest (distance to nearest IWT) on the various outcome measures.
Significance of binomial outcomes was assessed using either the GENMOD procedure with binomial distribution and logit link; or when cell frequencies were small (<5), Fisher’s Exact Test. When assessing significance between variables with a simple score as the outcome (eg. 1-5), the exact Wilcoxson Score (Rank Sums) test was employed using the NPAR1WAY procedure. Significance of continuous outcome variables was assessed using the GENMOD procedure with normal distribution. When using the GENMOD procedure, age, gender and site were forced into the model as fixed effects. The potential effect of household clustering on statistical significance was accommodated by using the REPEATED statement.
Independent variables assessed included the following: Site (Mars Hill, Vinalhaven); Distance to IWT (both as a categorical and continuous variable); Age (continuous variable); Gender (categorical variable). Significance of Site as an effect modifier was assessed by fitting an interaction term (Site*distance).
Dependent variables assessed include the following: Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), SF36-v2 Mental Component Score (MCS), SF36-v2 Physical Component Score (PCS).
For the purpose of interpreting statistical significance, the following were used: P-value < 0.05 = Significant; P-value 0.1 – 0.05 = Moderately significant; P-value > 0.1 = Not significant
Effect of Site on outcome parameters
The effect of Site was assessed by fitting Site (Mars Hill vs Vinalhaven) as a fixed effect, and as an interaction term with the main independent variable of interest (distance). Among all outcomes investigated, Site, and Site*Distance were not significant.
RESULTS
Study participants
33 and 32 adults were identified as living within 1,500 m of the nearest IWT at the Mars Hill (mean. 805 m, range 390-1,400) and Vinalhaven sites (mean 771 m range 375-1,000) respectively. 23 and 15 adults at the Mars Hill and Vinalhaven sites respectively completed questionnaires. Recruitment of control group participants continued to approximately the same number as study group participants, 25 and 16 for Mars Hill and Vinalhaven respectively.
There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to household size, age, or gender (Table 1).
Table 1
Sleep quality and health
The study group had worse sleep as evidenced by significantly higher mean PSQI and ESS scores and a greater number with PSQI >5 (Table 2). More subjects in the study group had ESS scores >10 but the difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.1313).
The study group had worse mental health as evidenced by significantly higher mean mental component score of the SF36. There was no difference in the physical component scores.
Table 2
ESS, PSQI and SF36 scores were modeled against distance from the nearest IWT using the equation: Score = ln(distance) + gender + age + site [controlled for household clustering] and are shown in Figures 1-3. In all cases, there was a clear and significant relationship with the effect diminishing with increasing distance from the IWT.
Figure 1: Modeled Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) vs Distance (mean and 95 % confidence limits), p-value=0.0198
Figure 2: Modeled Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) vs Distance (mean and 95 % confidence limits), p-value=0.0331
Figure 3: Modeled SF36 Mental Component Score (MCS) vs Distance (mean and 95 % confidence limits), p-value=0.0014
DISCUSSION
This study, which is the first controlled study of the effects of IWT noise on sleep and health, shows that those living within 1.4 km of IWT have suffered sleep disruption which is sufficiently severe as to affect their daytime functioning and mental health. Both the ESS and PSQI are averaged measures, i.e. they ask the subject to assess their daytime sleepiness and sleep quality respectively, over a period of several weeks leading up to the present. For the ESS to increase, sleep must have been shortened or fragmented to a sufficient degree on sufficient nights for normal compensatory mechanisms to have been overcome. The effects of sleep loss and daytime sleepiness on cognitive function, accident rate and mental health are well established (WHO 2009) and it must be concluded that at least some of the residents living near the Vinalhaven and Mars Hill IWT installations have suffered serious harm to their sleep and health.
The significant relationship between the symptoms and distance from the IWTs, the subjects’ report that their symptoms followed the start of IWT operations, the congruence of the symptoms reported here with previous research and reports and the clear mechanism is strong evidence that IWT noise is the cause of the observed effects.
IWT noise has an impulsive character and is several times more annoying than other sources of noise for the same sound pressure level (Pedersen & Persson Waye 2004). It can prevent the onset of sleep and the return to sleep after a spontaneous or induced awakening. Road, rail and aircraft noise causes arousals, brief lightening of sleep which are not recalled. While not proven, it is highly likely that IWT noise will cause arousals which may prove to be the major mechanism for sleep disruption. It is possible that the low frequency and infrasound components of IWT noise might contribute to the sleep disruption and health effects by other mechanisms but this remains to be determined and further research is needed.
Attitudes to IWT and visual impact have been shown to be factors in annoyance to IWT noise (Pedersen et al. 2009) but have not been demonstrated for sleep disturbance. Most respondents in the present study welcomed the IWT installations as offering economic benefits. The visual impact of IWT decreases with distance, as does the noise impact making separation of these factors impossible.
We conclude that IWT noise at these two sites disrupts the sleep and adversely affects the health of those living nearby. The current ordinances determining setback are inadequate to protect the residents and setbacks of less than 1.5 km must be regarded as unsafe. Further research is needed to determine a safe setback distance and to investigate the mechanisms of causation.
- Michael Nissenbaum MD, Northern Maine Medical Center, Fort Kent, Maine, USA, mnissenbaum/att.net
- Jeff Aramini PhD, Intelligent Health Solutions Inc., Fergus, Ontario, Canada, jeff.aramini/gmail.com
- Chris Hanning MD, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK, chrisdhanning/tiscali.co.uk
10th International Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem (ICBEN) 2011, London, UK
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