Wind Turbine Syndrome
So yesterday I highlighted a very fair demonstration of some of the concerns surrounding wind turbines. Today, I’m highlighting the health concerns of those who’ve been affected by poor planning and an industry that denies there is any problem.
A great resource on wind turbine syndrome is Dr. Nina Pierpont. She is a certified pediatrician with a background in behavioural medicine and behavioural ecology. She is considered an expert on Wind Turbine Syndrome and (regardless of what Joyce McLean will tell you) her work is peer reviewed. www.windturbinesyndrome.com is an extensive resource maintained by Dr. Pierpont with extensive information on the research she is undertaking.
Symptoms of Wind Turbine Syndrome Include:
Sleep problems: noise or physical sensations of pulsation or pressure make it hard to go to sleep and cause frequent awakening.
Headaches which are increased in frequency or severity.
Dizziness, unsteadiness, and nausea.
Exhaustion, anxiety, anger, irritability, and depression.
Problems with concentration and learning.
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
The cause of these symptoms is pretty clear. It is the irresponsible placement of wind turbines far too close to human populations by wind turbine developers who decide denying the existence of such symptoms or a cause and effect is easier than acting responsibly. Ontario’s wind turbine regulations are incredibly lax in comparison to Europe where wind turbine’s have been installed for years. In many ways we’re like the ‘wild west’ of regulations. It does have impacts on health, and frankly impedes private property rights. No one’s neighbour should be allowed to do something that adversely impacts another’s ability to enjoy their property or impacts their health, especially without compensation. As it stands, one’s neighbour can lease a parcel of their land to a wind developer, cause serious negative impacts on someone’s health and no one has any liability for it. The industry denies the reality of the claim, the politicians give speeches about the need for renewable energy while brushing these concerns aside. These industry experts need to recognize it would need to be one hell of a conspiracy that sees folks from coast to coast conspiring to make up false health claims. They need to start taking it seriously. Sadly, in our society, that probably means a massive lawsuit.
Below are some stories of real people living through this. They need to be heard. Their health concerns need to be taken seriously, and the impacts wind turbines have had on them need to be factored into setback regulations.
Wind Turbine Syndrome – Ontario
Wind Turbine Syndrome – Wisconsin
Wind Turbine Syndrome – Pennsylvania
Wind Turbine Syndrome – Oregon
Tags: Wind Turbine Syndrome
February 1st, 2009 at 10:13 am
Thanks for this post. It is time that the Ontario government paid attention to the health concerns of residents near wind farms. I have contacted Wind Concerns Ontario and read a letter written by unfortunate landowners here in Ontario living in the middle of a windfarm, as close as 450m to a wind turbine. The noise and vibrations from these huge machines are ruining their lives. Moreover, the resale value of their property will be adversely affected by the nearby windfarm, and it would seem to me that such landowners should be entitled to compensation if they have to move for health reasons. There must be a better way to satisfy our need for green energy.
February 1st, 2009 at 11:55 am
Shoddy research and claims about “low frequency” vibrations ought to be backed up in scientific journals, and not on websites and popular books. Further study should be done before we arbitrarily call foul.
February 1st, 2009 at 12:38 pm
As one who has talked to a number of people who have been affected by this in rural Ontario, I am morally appalled by people who say “Well, someone always has to pay a bigger price than others” or “It’s better than a coal plant” or “Every technology has it’s drawbacks”. This is plain rationalization for exploiting a segment of our society. These people are suffering and are systematically being ignored by the Ontario Liberal government.
February 1st, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Ian – I’ve sat through meetings and heard Joyce McLean and Jack Simpson from Toronto Hydro Energy Services lie. I don’t know Pierport or any of the interviewees to be liars.
Do you honestly believe all of these folks are making it up so Pierport can write a book?
The industry who is causing the illness has a responsibility to truly understand the impact of their product on people. Industry used to think dumping heavy metals in the lake was a good call and without health impacts. I guess if the internet was around then we’d call tat shoddy too.
You don’t think it’s reasonable to at least recognize a relationship between a set of symptoms and living too close to these things and call for a development freeze while proper research is undertaken?
Just a quick question, if you basically deny everything you read online that isn’t in a scientific journal – why would you go anywhere near a blog or you tube for anything but cheap laughs? I think because this point goes against an idea you like that you’ve decided to trash the medium of the message – a silly agrument by all accounts.
February 1st, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Ian, do you not understand the overwhelming public opinion NOT to study this in a scientific journal?
Who would fund it? The wind companies? NO, why should they?
The government? NO, that would put them in a dangerous position.
So who is going to pay for this? And how can you study this in a Lab? Anyone who speaks negatively about this symbol of green is shunned by society. This is not just happening in Ontario – it is a phenomenom happening all over the world….but the media won’t touch it with a 10 foot pole.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Hi John,
I tried sending you an e-mail at:
john.laforet@laforet.ca.
My gmail wouldn’t recognize that address for some reason. Huh???
September 10th, 2009 at 5:25 am
So far, the health problem of wind turbine is caused by the noisy. The noise of wind turbines affected the life and sleep of near people. I think there are two ways to solve this. One is to build the wind farm far away the people houses. Another is to use the vertical axis wind turbine in urban area.