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The association between wind turbines and health effects is highly debated. Some argue that reported health effects are related to wind turbine operation [electromagnetic fields (EMF), shadow flicker, audible noise, low-frequency noise, infrasound]. Others suggest that when turbines are sited correctly, effects are more likely attributable to a number of subjective variables that result in an annoyed/stressed state. In this review, we provide a bibliographic-like summary and analysis of the science around this issue specifically in terms of noise (including audible, low-frequency noise, and infrasound), EMF, and shadow flicker. Now there are roughly 60 scientific peer-reviewed articles on this issue. The available scientific evidence suggests that EMF, shadow flicker, low-frequency noise, and infrasound from wind turbines are not likely to affect human health; some studies have found that audible noise from wind turbines can be annoying to some. Annoyance may be associated with some self-reported health effects (e.g., sleep disturbance) especially at sound pressure levels >40 dB(A). Because environmental noise above certain levels is a recognized factor in a number of health issues, siting restrictions have been implemented in many jurisdictions to limit noise exposure. These setbacks should help alleviate annoyance from noise. Subjective variables (attitudes and expectations) are also linked to annoyance and have the potential to facilitate other health complaints via the nocebo effect. Therefore, it is possible that a segment of the population may remain annoyed (or report other health impacts) even when noise limits are enforced. Based on the findings and scientific merit of the available studies, the weight of evidence suggests that when sited properly, wind turbines are not related to adverse health. Stemming from this review, we provide a number of recommended best practices for wind turbine development in the context of human health.

1H NMR-based metabolomics was used to examine the response of Eisenia fetida earthworms raised from juveniles for 20–23 weeks in soil spiked with either 20 or 200 mg/kg of a commercially available uncoated titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterial (nominal diameter of 5 nm). To distinguish responses specific to particle size, soil treatments spiked with a micrometer-sized TiO2 material (nominal diameter, <45 μm) at the same concentrations (20 and 200 mg/kg) were also included in addition to an unspiked control soil. Multivariate statistical analysis of the 1H NMR spectra for aqueous extracts of E. fetida tissue suggested that earthworms exhibited significant changes in their metabolic profile following TiO2 exposure for both particle sizes. The observed earthworm metabolic changes appeared to be consistent with oxidative stress, a proposed mechanism of toxicity for nanosized TiO2. In contrast, a prior study had observed no impairment of E. fetida survival, reproduction, or growth following exposure to the same TiO2 spiked soils. This suggests that 1H NMR-based metabolomics provides a more sensitive measure of earthworm response to TiO2 materials in soil and that further targeted assays to detect specific cellular or molecular level damage to earthworms caused by chronic exposure to TiO2 are warranted.

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