Wind Farm Noise Health Effects Tested

Potentially harmful noise from wind farms can be detected up to 3.5km from the nearest turbine and is present for 16 per cent of the time, a
study has found.

A group of volunteers is presently undergoing laboratory tests at Flinders
University in South Australia as researchers zero in on the little-studied
amplitude modulation as a pos

The National Health and Medical Research Council has funded a series of
studies into wind farm noise following complaints from nearby residents.
Earlier studies of scientific literature by the council found little quality
research had been done. Since the council study was announced, the
World Health Organisation has added wind turbine noise as a source of
potential health impacts above certain levels.

An update on the Australian research released yesterday by Flinders
University said while effects of wind turbine noise on sleep were still
being investigated, amplitude modulation (AM) was one of the most
prominent features of wind turbine noise.

Results of the investigation were published in Journal of Sound and
Vibration (Elsevier).

“In this first study, we found that audible AM decreases with distance
from the wind farm but still remained prominent over long distances,” Dr
Kristy Hansen, the leader of the Flinders research team said.

“The prevalence of AM has not been widely reported either in Australia or
worldwide, although itʼs well known that it results in increased annoyance
in listening tests — and has also been cited in complaints from residents
living near wind farms,” Dr Hansen said.