Wind Turbine Acoustic Pollution Assessment Requirements

The Waubra Foundation
11th May, 2012

On behalf of the many people around the world, suffering acute and chronic health damage from living near wind turbines, the Waubra Foundation demands that relevant authorities initiate:

The noise monitoring must be performed by accredited acousticians demonstrably independent of the wind industry, approved by the sufferers, and in a manner that will avoid any deliberate manipulation of turbine operation to reduce the acoustic emissions during testing. The results (including all the raw data and associated sound files) must be made available to all parties.

The Rationale for These Demands

Summary

The plight of people made ill by wind turbine acoustic pollution has been universally ignored by their respective governments.

The current noise assessment practices and standards are incompetent and unacceptable, and must be changed to include full spectrum acoustic monitoring inside homes and workplaces as a matter of urgency.

References

  1. Capuccio F, et al: “Sleep Duration Predicts Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies”. European Heart Journal, 2011;32:1484-92
  2. McEwen, Bruce: “Protective and Damaging Effects of Stress Mediators”. New England Journal of Medicine, 1998;338:171-9
  3. Shepherd, Daniel, et al: “Evaluating the Impact of Wind Turbine Noise on Health-Related Quality of Life”. Noise & Health, September-October 2011;13:54,333-9. www.wind-watch.org/documents/evaluating-the-impact-of-wind-turbine-noise-on-health-related-quality-of-life
  4. Pierpont, Nina, “Wind Turbine Syndrome: A Report on a Natural Experiment”. 2009. K-Selected Books, Santa Fe, NM. www.windturbinesyndrome.com. See also www.wind-watch.org/documents/wind-turbine-syndrome-excerpts-from-the-executive-summary
  5. McMurtry, Robert: “Toward a Case Definition of Adverse Health Effects in the Environs of Industrial Wind Turbines: Facilitating a Clinical Diagnosis”. Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, 2011;31:316. http://bst.sagepub.com/content/31/4/316
  6. Phillips, Carl V: “Properly Interpreting the Epidemiological Evidence About the Health Effects of Industrial Wind Turbines on Nearby Residents”. Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, August 2011;31(4):303–15. http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/properly-interpreting-the-epidemiologic-evidence-about-the-health-effects-of-industrial-wind-turbines-on-nearby-residents/
  7. Leventhall, Benton, & Pelmear: “A Review of Published Research on Low Frequency Noise and Its Effects” [a report for DEFRA]. May 2003. http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/noise/research/lowfrequencydocuments/lowfreqnoise.pdf. See excerpts at www.wind-watch.org/documents/review-of-published-research-on-low-frequency-noise-and-its-effects
  8. NIEHS (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences): “Infrasound: Brief Review of Toxicological Literature”. November 2001
  9. Leventhall, Benton, & Pelmear. May 2003. op cit
  10. Leventhall, Benton, & Pelmear. May 2003. op cit, section 10
  11. Pederson & Waye: “Perception and Annoyance Due to Wind Turbine Noise — A Dose-Response Relationship”. Journal of Acoustical Society of America, 2004;116(6):3460-70
  12. Harry, Amanda: “Wind Turbines, Noise and Health”. 2007. www.wind-watch.org/documents/wind-turbines-noise-and-health
  13. Iser, David: personal communication.
  14. Pierpont, Nina: “Wind Turbine Syndrome: A Report on a Natural Experiment”. 2009. K-Selected Books, Santa Fe, NM, www.windturbinesyndrome.com
  15. McMurtry, Robert: “Toward a Case Definition of Adverse Health Effects in the Environs of Industrial Wind Turbines: Facilitating a Clinical Diagnosis”. Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, 2011;31:316. http://bst.sagepub.com/content/31/4/316
  16. Hanning C; & Evans A: BMJ, 2012;344:e1527 www.wind-watch.org/documents/wind-turbine-noise-editorial
  17. Laurie, Sarah (Medical Director, Waubra Foundation): Submission to the Australian Federal Senate Inquiry into Rural Wind Farms. February 2011. www.waubrafoundation.com.au
  18. Waubra Foundation: Submission to the NSW Department of Planning. March 2012. www.wind-watch.org/documents/response-to-nsw-planning-department-draft-guidelines-for-wind-developments
  19. Hubert de Bonneville: personal communication. See also www.windturbinesyndrome.com/2012/french-writer-going-nuts-from-wind-turbines-france
  20. www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/03/09/letter-to-australian-prime-minister-from-dr-sarah-laurie
  21. Moller & Pedersen: “Low Frequency Noise from Large Turbines”. Journal of Acoustical Society of America, 2011;129:3727–44. www.wind-watch.org/documents/low-frequency-noise-from-large-wind-turbines-2
  22. Ambrose, Stephen; & Rand, Robert: “Bruce McPherson Infrasound and Low Frequency Noise Study”. 2011. www.wind-watch.org/documents/bruce- mcpherson-infrasound-and-low-frequency-noise-study
  23. Cooper, Steven: “Review of Draft NSW Guidelines”. March 2012. www.wind-watch.org/documents/review-of-nsw-draft-wind-farm-guidelines

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