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Wind Turbine Noise, Sleep Quality, and Symptoms of Inner Ear Problems 

Author:  | Health, Ontario

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INTRODUCTION
Wind turbines are a form of renewable energy, which generate electricity from wind energy, a practice dating back over 100 years. The production of electricity from the movement of wind turbine motor blades creates both mechanical and aerodynamic noise. This type of environmental noise is a growing public health concern, especially for residents living close to wind turbines. A body of evidence now exists to suggest that wind turbine noise can impair health and contribute to annoyance and sleep disturbance. However, in Ontario, little is known about how wind turbines impact people living in their vicinity. This investigation was a cross-sectional study involving eight Ontario communities that contain ten or more wind turbines. This study investigated the impact of wind turbine noise, using distance as a surrogate measure, on quality of life (both physical and mental health) and sleep disturbance in residents living close to wind turbines. Dose-response relationships were examined in an attempt to investigate acceptable exposure levels and appropriate setback distances for wind turbines.

NOISE FROM WIND TURBINES
Wind turbines produce two main types of noise:

  1. Mechanical noise – mainly motor noise from within the turbine (many ways to reduce this)
  2. Aerodynamic noise – mainly from the flow of air around the blades (sound pressure levels increase with tip speed and size); is the dominant source of noise from wind turbines and results in a “swishing” or “thumping” noise

Aerodynamic noise is present at all frequencies, from infrasound (frequencies below 20Hz) to low frequency (frequencies below 200 Hz) to the normal audible range. In most cases, the sound from wind turbines is described as infrasound. Although infrasound is usually inaudible, at high enough sound pressure levels, it can be audible to some people.

Studies have shown that high sound pressure levels (loudness) of audible noise and infrasound have been associated with learning, sleep and cognitive disruptions, stress, and anxiety (Leventhall et al., 2003; WHO, 2009; Knopper & Ollson, 2011). More specifically, studies have suggested that wind turbine noise (i.e. low-frequency sound energy below 20Hz) can impact health, though this is still an area under debate (Pierpont, 2009; Salt & Hullar, 2010).

Research also suggests that some inner ear components (such as the outer hair cells) may respond to infrasound at the frequencies and sound levels generated by wind turbines. Therefore, there is a possibility that exposure to the infrasound component of wind turbine noise could influence the physiology of the ear leading to changes in the exposed individual (Salt & Hullar, 2010).

METHODS
For this cross-sectional study, the “Quality of Life and Renewable Energy Technologies Study” survey was used to measure the impact of wind turbine noise on health. Using Canada Post’s Unaddressed Admail Service, surveys were sent out to 4876 residences in Ontario counties that contain 10 or more wind turbines. Completed surveys were returned to the University of Waterloo by study participants using Canada Post’s Business Reply Mail Service. Members of the Renewable Energy Technologies and Health team coded and entered the results into Microsoft Excel as surveys were received. Survey respondents’ self-reported addresses (i.e. full street addresses with postal codes) were entered into Google Maps to determine the location of each residence. 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 wind turbine) on the various outcome measures.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The data obtained for use in this study were collected between February 1st and May 31st, 2013. In total there were 412 surveys returned; 16 of these survey respondents did not provide their home address. Therefore, 396 surveys were included in the analysis.

County

Wind Farm

Total Surveys Sent

Bruce

Enbridge

828

Chatham-Kent

Raleigh

415

Dufferin

Melancthon

944

Elgin

Erie Shores

726

Essex

Comber

1222

Frontenac

Wolfe Island

155

Huron

Kingsbridge

473

Norfolk

Frogmore/Cultus/Clear Creek

113

TOTAL

4876

 

Demographic data of study participants from eight WT communities combined

Parameter

Distance (m) from Residence to Nearest Wind Turbine (mean)

<1000 (700.62)

1000-1999.99 (1426.96)

2000-3999.99 (3044.30)

≥4000 (9190.84)

Sample Size

70

80

103

143

Mean Age

52.32 (±14.08)

53.95 (±14.82)

55.99 (±16.41)

57.09 (±14.15)

Male/Female

39/30

43/37

50/52

72/68

Mean Time in Home*

18.38 (±13.78)

20.12 (±15.19)

19.76 (±15.20)

18.47 (±16.21)

Mean # of Wind Turbines within 2000 m

8.49 (±6.47)

3.41 (±2.46)

*Years that study participants have lived at current residence

The relationship between ln(distance) (as a continuous variable) and mean Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was found to be statistically significant (p=0.0096) when controlling for age, gender and county. This relationship shows that as the distance increases (move further away from a wind turbine), PSQI decreases (i.e. sleep improves) in a logarithmic relationship. Multivariate analysis involved assessing distance to the nearest wind turbine as both distance and ln(distance). In all cases, ln(distance) resulted in improved model fit.

The relationship between vertigo and ln(distance) was statistically significant (p<0.001) when controlling for age, gender, and county. The relationship between tinnitus and ln(distance) approached statistical significance (p=0.0755). Both vertigo and tinnitus were worse among participants living closer to wind turbines.
Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients (rs) between PSQI, vertigo and tinnitus are shown below. All relationships were found to be positive and statistically significant. The strongest correlation was seen between the variables ‘tinnitus’ and ‘vertigo’ (rs=0.2).

Vertigo

Tinnitus

PSQI

Vertigo

1

0.25 (p<0.0001)

0.22 (p<0.0001)

Tinnitus

0.25 (p<0.0001)

1

0.11 (p=0.0392)

PSQI

0.22 (p<0.0001)

0.11 (p=0.0382)

1

In conclusion, relationships were found between ln(distance) and PSQI, ln(distance) and self-reported vertigo and ln(distance) and self-reported tinnitus. Study findings suggest that future research should focus on the effects of wind turbine noise on sleep disturbance and symptoms of inner ear problems.

Vertigo - ln(distance) relationship (p<0.001). Graph shows modeled mean and upper and lower 95% confidence intervals.

Vertigo – ln(distance) relationship (p<0.001). Graph shows modeled mean and upper and lower 95% confidence intervals.

Tinnitus - ln(distance) relationship (p=0.0755). Graph shows modeled mean and upper and lower 95% confidence intervals.

Tinnitus – ln(distance) relationship (p=0.0755). Graph shows modeled mean and upper and lower 95% confidence intervals.

PSQI - ln(distance) relationship (p=0.0096). Graph shows modeled mean and upper and lower 95% confidence intervals.

PSQI – ln(distance) relationship (p=0.0096). Graph shows modeled mean and upper and lower 95% confidence intervals.

Acknowledgements:
This work was made possible with the support of the Ontario Research Chair for Renewable Energy Technologies and Health and the Renewable Energy Technologies and Health Research Team.

Claire Paller (1), Phil Bigelow (1), Shannon Majowicz (1), Jane Law (1,2), and Tanya Christidis (2)
(1) School of Public Health and Health Systems and (2) School of Planning, University of Waterloo, Ontario

Presented as a poster at Symposium on Sustainability, Thursday, October 17, 2013, York University, Toronto, Ontario – part of the Symposia of the Ontario Research Chairs in Public Policy.

Download original document: “Wind Turbine Noise, Sleep Quality, and Symptoms of Inner Ear Problems

This material is the work of the author(s) indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this material resides with the author(s). As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Queries e-mail.

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