Sleep disturbances from noisy wind turbines found in 2 of 3 studies

Paper published today in Environmental Research Letters:

Karl Bolin et al 2011 Environ. Res. Lett. 6 035103 doi:10.1088/1748-9326/6/3/035103

Infrasound and low frequency noise from wind turbines: exposure and health effects

FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF WIND ENERGY

Karl Bolin¹, Gösta Bluhm², Gabriella Eriksson³ and Mats E Nilsson^2,4

AbstractReferences

Part of Focus on the Environmental Impact of Wind Energy

Wind turbines emit low frequency noise (LFN) and large turbines generally generate more LFN than small turbines. The dominant source of LFN is the interaction between incoming turbulence and the blades. Measurements suggest that indoor levels of LFN in dwellings typically are within recommended guideline values, provided that the outdoor level does not exceed corresponding guidelines for facade exposure. Three cross-sectional questionnaire studies show that annoyance from wind turbine noise is related to the immission level, but several explanations other than low frequency noise are probable. A statistically significant association between noise levels and self-reported sleep disturbance was found in two of the three studies. It has been suggested that LFN from wind turbines causes other, and more serious, health problems, but empirical support for these claims is lacking.

Chronic Sleep Deprivation May Harm Health | WebMD

In the long term, the clinical consequences of untreated sleep disorders are large indeed. They are associated with numerous, serious medical illnesses, including:

High blood pressure
Heart attack
Heart failure
Stroke
Obesity
Psychiatric problems, including depression and other mood disorders
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Mental impairment
Fetal and childhood growth retardation
Injury from accidents
Disruption of bed partner's sleep quality
Poor quality of life