Low frequency noise and infrasound from wind turbines

D'Neal, Robert; Hellweg, Robert D.; Lampeter, Richard M.

doi:10.3397/1.3549200

Cited by 40 publications

(38 citation statements)

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“…These results were not surprising since all the wind turbines in this study were upwind devices [15]. Please note that recently, O'Neal et al [16] performed noise surveys outside and inside residencies nearby wind turbines from 2 different manufactures and they also found that the measured (at distance of 305 m and 457 m) sound pressure levels (in 1/3-octave bands) in the infrasonic range were lower than the hearing threshold levels. In order to evaluate annoyance due to the noise from wind turbines, the participants of this study completed the questionnaire, which was based on the one previously used in the Swedish studies [2,3].…”

Section: Disscusionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Evaluation of annoyance from the wind turbine noise: A pilot study

Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska¹,

Dudarewicz²,

Zaborowski³

et al. 2014

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

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Objectives: The overall aim of this study was to evaluate the perception of and annoyance due to the noise from wind turbines in populated areas of Poland. Material and Methods: The study group comprised 156 subjects. All subjects were asked to fill in a questionnaire developed to enable evaluation of their living conditions, including prevalence of annoyance due to the noise from wind turbines and the self-assessment of physical health and well-being. In addition, current mental health status of the respondents was assessed using Goldberg General Health Questionnaire GHQ-12. For areas where the respondents lived, A-weighted sound pressure levels (SPLs) were calculated as the sum of the contributions from the wind power plants in the specific area. Results: It has been shown that the wind turbine noise at the calculated A-weigh ted SPL of 30-48 dB was noticed outdoors by 60.3% of the respondents. This noise was perceived as annoying outdoors by 33.3% of the respondents, while indoors by 20.5% of them. The odds ratio of being annoyed outdoors by the wind turbine noise increased along with increasing SPLs (OR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.22-3.62). The subjects' attitude to wind turbines in general and sensitivity to landscape littering was found to have significant impact on the perceived annoyance. About 63% of variance in outdoors annoyance assessment might be explained by the noise level, general attitude to wind turbines and sensitivity to landscape littering. Conclusions: Before firm conclusions can be drawn further studies are needed, including a larger number of respondents with different living environments (i.e., dissimilar terrain, different urbanization and road traffic intensity).

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Section: Disscusionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Evaluation of annoyance from the wind turbine noise: A pilot study

Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska¹,

Dudarewicz²,

Zaborowski³

et al. 2014

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

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“…However, it was not clear how this conclusion might have been altered had they considered the additional available information regarding LFN and infrasound from wind turbines described elsewhere in this review [i.e., (7,11,22,37,38)]. …”

Section: Review Articles Editorials and Social Commentariesmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…However, infrasound and LFN are not unique to wind turbines; natural sources of infrasound include meteors, volcanic eruptions, ocean waves, wind, and any effect that leads to slow oscillations of the air (11). Measured LFN and infrasound levels from wind turbines have been shown to comply with available standards and criteria published by numerous government agencies including the UK Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs; the American National Standards Institute; and the Japan Ministry of Environment (22). Therefore, Knopper and Ollson (9) concluded that the hypothesis that infrasound is a causative agent in health effects does not appear to be supported.…”

Section: Low-frequency Noise and Infrasoundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It should be noted that, as discussed in the "Low-Frequency Noise and Infrasound" section of this review, there were a number of studies that specifically addressed the concerns of LFN and infrasound from wind turbines that suggested that these were unlikely to be causative agents in health effects of those living near wind turbines [e.g., (7,11,22,37,38)]. Unfortunately, none of these studies were included as part of the Farboud et al review.…”

Section: Review Articles Editorials and Social Commentariesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2011, Knopper and Ollson (9) published a review that contrasted the human health effects that had been purported to be caused by wind turbines in popular literature sources with what had been reported in the peer-reviewed scientific literature as well as by various government agencies. At that time, only 15 articles in the peer-reviewed scientific literature that specifically addressed issues related to human health and wind turbines were available [i.e., (4,5,(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Assessing Environmental Impacts of Offshore Wind Farms: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for the Future

Adaramola¹

2015

Wind Resources and Future Energy Security

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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.

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On infrasound generated by wind farms and its propagation in low‐altitude tropospheric waveguides

et al. 2015

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Infrasound from a 60‐turbine wind farm was found to propagate to distances up to 90 km under nighttime atmospheric conditions. Four infrasound sensor arrays were deployed in central New Mexico in February 2014; three of these arrays captured infrasound from a large wind farm. The arrays were in a linear configuration oriented southeast with 13, 54, 90, and 126 km radial distances and azimuths of 166°, 119°, 113°, and 111° from the 60 1.6 MW turbine Red Mesa Wind Farm, Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico, USA. Peaks at a fundamental frequency slightly below 0.9 Hz and its harmonics characterize the spectrum of the detected infrasound. The generation of this signal is linked to the interaction of the blades, flow gradients, and the supporting tower. The production of wind‐farm sound, its propagation, and detection at long distances can be related to the characteristics of the atmospheric boundary layer. First, under stable conditions, mostly occurring at night, winds are highly stratified, which enhances the production of thickness sound and the modulation of other higher‐frequency wind turbine sounds. Second, nocturnal atmospheric conditions can create low‐altitude waveguides (with altitudes on the order of hundreds of meters) allowing long‐distance propagation. Third, night and early morning hours are characterized by reduced background atmospheric noise that enhances signal detectability. This work describes the characteristics of the infrasound from a quasi‐continuous source with the potential for long‐range propagation that could be used to monitor the lower part of the atmospheric boundary layer.

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Low frequency noise and infrasound from wind turbines

Cited by 40 publications

References 0 publications

Evaluation of annoyance from the wind turbine noise: A pilot study

Evaluation of annoyance from the wind turbine noise: A pilot study

Assessing Environmental Impacts of Offshore Wind Farms: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for the Future

On infrasound generated by wind farms and its propagation in low‐altitude tropospheric waveguides

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