Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
in increased levels of annoyance. Interestingly, such annoyance was reported more
frequently when turbines were visible and when the observer reported a negative
impact on surrounding landscape.
It has been widely reported that wind turbines are creating sounds and vibrations
that can be sensed by people up to 10 miles away. Magee (2014, p. 227) noted that,
“Nina Pierpont, MD, PhD, is reporting that people who live within 2 kilometers of
wind turbines are reporting sickness that can be traced to the presence of these. Low
frequency noise and infrasound (sound that is less than 20 Hz) appear to be the prob-
lem.” The problem that Pierpont and others have reported is commonly called
wind
turbine syndrome
, which is the disruption or abnormal stimulation of the inner ear's
vestibular system caused by turbine infrasound and low-frequency noise. Symptoms
of wind turbine syndrome include the following:
•
Sleep problems
•
Headaches
•
Dizziness
•
Exhaustion, anxiety, anger, irritability, and depression
•
Problems with concentration and learning
•
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Along with the turbine noise annoyance generated by mechanical and aerody-
namic factors—the feeling of resentment displeasure, discomfort, dissatisfaction,
or offense that occurs when noise interferes with someone's thoughts, feeling, or
daily activities (Concha-Barrientos et al., 2005)—there have been complaints about
rhythmic light flicker causing intermittent shadows known as
shadow flicker
or
flick-
ering shadows
. Schworm and Filipov (2013) reported that a woman from Kingston,
Massachusetts, stated that the problem with shadow flicker begins in the late after-
noon. Stripes of shadow whip across her living room, kitchen, and bedroom, a pulse
of flashing light and dark that can continue more than an hour and makes Reilly
think she is losing her mind. “You can't stay in your room. You get a headache,” the
woman said. “You can't live your life.”
Another increasing complaint being heard concerning wind turbine noise gen-
eration is related to high levels of low-frequency noise over years of exposure. This
problem is called
vibroacoustic disease
(VAD). The clinical progression is insidi-
ous, and lesions are found in many systems throughout the body. This disease or
syndrome is commonly classified as mild, moderate, or severe as described below:
•
Mild
(1-4 years)—Slight mood swings, indigestion, heartburn, mouth/
throat infections, bronchitis
•
Moderate
(4-10 years)—Chest pain, definite mood swings, back pain,
fatigue, skin infections (fungal, viral, and parasitic), inflammation of the
stomach lining, pain and blood in the urine, conjunctivitis, allergies
•
Severe
(>10 years)—Psychiatric disturbances, hemorrhages (nasal, diges-
tive, conjunctiva mucosa), varicose veins, hemorrhoids, duodenal ulcers,
spastic colitis, decrease in visual activity, headaches, severe joint pain,
intense muscular pain, neurological disturbances
