Infrasound from wind turbines — an overlooked health risk
Enbom, Håkan; and Malcus Enbom, Inga
Infrasound from wind turbines affects the inner ear and is a potential health risk for people with migraine or other type of central sentitisation. Regulations for proposals of new wind turbines should be revised to take this fact into account.
Infraljud från vindkraftverk – en förbisedd hälsorisk
Infraljud från vindkraftverk påverkar innerörat och utgör en möjlig hälsorisk för personer med migrän eller annan typ av central sentitisering. Regelverket för nyetablering av vindkraftverk bör revideras med hänsyn tagen till denna omständighet, anser artikelförfattarna.
Previous scientific studies on wind turbines and infrasound have been contradictory. They have therefore not been sufficiently credible when planning a framework for the establishment of wind turbines. In recent years, however, a new insight has emerged on the central sensitization, providing a better understanding of migraine, fibromyalgia and other chronic pain syndromes [1, 2] and some cases of tinnitus and dizziness. This understanding is also important for understanding how infrasound from wind turbines can affect health. Several studies have found that living near wind turbines often create severe sleep disturbance and depression. They have also found an increased incidence of dizziness, tinnitus, hyperacusis, headache, increased activation of the autonomic nervous system, etc. [3, 4].
In addition to the audible sound, which can provide noise damage and be generally disruptive, mentally, spinning wind turbines also produce a vibrant low frequency sound and infrasound that affects the inner ear and the central nervous system without damaging the hearing.
Infrasound is sound with frequencies below 20 Hz, corresponding to wavelengths of 17 meters and above, that is not perceived with normal hearing. This sound, if it is not mitigated substantially, propagates over very long distances. It arises from several sources, such as pulsating flows from chimneys, large eddies (such as wind turbines and large jet engines), traffic road and large vibrating surfaces. In scientific studies, infrasound from wind turbines has been measured at levels so low that the sound is not perceived by humans. It has also been determined that infrasound from wind turbines does not give rise to noise damage in the traditional sense [5].
In general, what has not been taken into account in these studies, is that infrasound from wind turbines has a rhythmic pulsing sound, and the pulsating sound pressure affects the inner ear, although no sound is perceived by the individual. The pressure waves propagate into the inner ear fluid-filled cavities, and this “massage effect” affects the sensory cells in the inner ear hearing and organs of balance [6]. Previous studies has not studied the effect on subjects with migraine. Futhermore previous studies also fail to take into account the fact that some people are more sensitive than others to the sensory impact. Some people are significantly affected by the pulsating sound pressure while others are not affected by it in a significant way.
The rhythmic, pumping infrasound from wind turbines stimulates inner ear sensory functions [7, 8]. In people with migraine and sensory hypersensitivity this sensory stimulation can trigger migraine and a central sensory hypersensitivity, causing symptoms such as unsteadiness, dizziness, headache, concentration difficulties, visual disturbances, and more [9]. The problems arise even if the noise level is relatively low, since infrasound constantly affects and rhythmically changes the pressure in the inner ear via the sound paths. The pulsing sound pressure from wind turbines also indirectly activates the autonomic nervous system, causing increased secretion of adrenaline with consequent stress effects, risk of panic anxiety, high blood pressure and heart attacks for people with increased sensory sensitivity.
Migraine is caused by a genetic sensory hypersensitivity (channelopati) causing risk for central nervous sensitization [10]. Migraine prevalence is about 15 percent in the general population [11]. In addition there are other causes of central sensitization, which means that more than 20 percent of residents in the vicinity of wind turbines could be, to greater or lesser extent, affected by wind-related “annoyance.” Risk groups include people with migraine disorder or a family history of migraines, people with fibromyalgia and those with a tendency to anxiety and depression [12]. Children and adults with ADHD and autism are at risk and could have their symptoms worsened.
The issue is not noise damage in the traditional sense, but the effect of a constant pulsating sound pressure that constantly changes the pressure in the inner ear and excites sensory organs there. One can liken it to pulsating or flickering lights—many people are not bothered noticeably, while people with sensory hypersensitivity may experience discomfort. Flickering light can even trigger epilepsy. Likewise, constantly pulsating, non-audible infrasound from wind turbines triggers considerable problems in people with central sensory hypersensitivity. Infrasound and low frequency sound from wind turbines is a strong trigger to elicit migraine. Thus, this sensory stimulation can, in subjects an inherited risk for migraine, elicit migraine with central sensitization and eventually become chronic, debilitating and lead to anxiety and depression and increase the risk of heart attack.
The current regulatory framework for wind turbines has not taken into account the potential risk to people with migraine and central sensory hypersensitivity. Wind turbines are being erected too close to buildings [homes]. The current regulatory framework should be revised with an increased safety distance from buildings [homes] to prevent or reduce the risk of wind-related excess morbidity.
Hakan Enbom, MD, PhD, ENT specialist, otoneurology, a specialist in dizziness diseases
Inga Malcus Enbom, ENT specialist, specialist in allergy and hypersensitivity reactions
City Health ENT, Ängelholm, Sweden
Läkartidningen 2013 vol. 110 no. 32–33 pp. 1388-1389 [1]
Download original document: “Infraljud från vindkraftverk – en förbisedd hälsorisk [2]”
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[via windturbinesyndrome.com [3]]
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/infrasound-from-wind-turbines-an-overlooked-health-risk/
URLs in this post:
[1] Läkartidningen 2013 vol. 110 no. 32–33 pp. 1388-1389: http://www.lakartidningen.se/Opinion/Debatt/2013/08/Infraljud-fran-vindkraftverk---en-halsorisk/
[2] Infraljud från vindkraftverk – en förbisedd hälsorisk: https://docs.wind-watch.org/infraljud-vindkraftverk.pdf
[3] windturbinesyndrome.com: http://www.windturbinesyndrome.com/