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"Wind Turbine Syndrome" not supported by current peer-reviewed science
While entire libraries are filled with peer-reviewed research on the known and severe negative health, social, and ecological impacts associated with the use of fossil fuels, it is interesting that some argue solar, PV, Wind and other renewable energy projects are a threat to health or the environment.

While no technology is entirely benign, society must thoughtfully consider the relative risks rather than the absolute ones if society is to generate energy to meet its demands.

Apparently no peer-reviewed science supports the notion that reasonably-sited wind turbines are responsible for human health problems of note. Local news has reported that wind turbine opponents justify their opposition with a claim that "Wind Turbine Syndrome" (not listed in the official diagnostic literature) causes a host of human health problems.

Possibly useful WHO doc. on relative social/ecological impacts of generating power by various methods

http://www.euro.who.int/document/eehc/ebakdoc08.pdf

above link taken from the following site with other peer-reviewed paper citations dealing specifically with wind turbine/sound issues:

http://www.canwea.ca/media/release/release_e.php?newsId=37

regards,
Dudley

Dudley Greeley
University of Southern Maine
Environmental and Economic Sustainability Office
96 Falmouth Street PO box 9300
Portland Maine 04104-9300
Phone: 207-780-4384
Fax: 207-780-4538
Email: dgreeley@usm.maine.edu

"Wind Turbine Syndrome" should not be dismissed out of hand

1) Dudley Greeley says that Wind Turbine Syndrome is not mentioned in the "official diagnostic literature." He doesn't say what he is referring to. The most relevent diagnostic literature would be something called "International Classification of Diseases" (ICD) published by the World Health Organization (the specialized health agency for the United Nations). It is not surprising that Wind Turbine Syndrome is not in the ICD, since the most recent version, ICD-10, came out in 1990. See http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/en/

The research on the the impact of industrial wind turbines on human health is fairly new, given that industrial wind turbines themselves are relatively new. All new fields of science begin with anecdotal evidence. This evidence is collected and evaluated in the context of known theories or evidence in relevant disciplines. Ultimately, hypotheses (such as "Low-frequency noise from wind turbines is associated with sleep disorders"), are tested using various scientific methods. They are either found to be true or untrue. The more research that shows one result or the other, the stronger the conclusion. This process, of course, takes years.

"Wind turbine syndrome" is a name given by Dr. Nina Pierpont, a physician, to a collection of symptoms common to people living near industrial wind turbines. Pierpont is at least at the stage of anecdotal evidence and a bit further along. She has consulted with numerous experts in audible and low-frequency sound, among others, on her findings, and has invited many scientists from various fields to comment on her work. They have, positively.

So, while it is unlikely that the literature on Wind Turbine Syndrome will be developed enough to appear in the next ICD version of the ICD, this does not mean that the scientific investigation of the syndrome is invalid. Far from it. This is how the science on lung cancer and smoking got started.

2) Greeley also provides a link to a press release from the industrial wind energy trade association in Canada. An industry website listing is not a comprehensive review of literature and, of course, is not subject to any review at all. And, equally evident, we should not expect the wind energy industry to be the first to trumpet new findings in the field of wind turbines and ill health.

But, as Rob McCall says, "don't take it from me; go out there and see for yourself." Check out the links provided by Greeley. But also check out Pierpont's web site, http://www.windturbinesyndrome.com/. You may not be a scientist, but you can certainly decide for yourself whether or not she's on to something.

- Heather Selin, Jackson resident, and part-time consultant to the World Health Organization.

Email from Phil Bloomstein, who lives 1000 feet from the turbines in Freedom, Maine.

----- Original Message -----
From: Phil Bloomstein
To: hillfarm@pivot.net
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 7:48 PM
Subject: notes from bloomstein

Many of you may know that the wind turbines in Freedom are up and running. You may or may not know that the turbines are 1000 feet from our home and not a whole lot farther from Gary and Nancy Zane's home. As most of you, we support wind energy and for that matter any source of green renewable energy. We have enjoyed living on Deer Hill for over 30 years and the Zanes for nearly 20 years.
However the close proximity of the turbines to our homes has had a major impact on our lives. Presently the noise levels at our home are significantly higher than the maximum of 45 dba we were promised. We are in contact with Beaver Ridge LLC, the owners and operators of the turbines. It is our goal to hold Beaver Ridge LLC accountable to the promised noise levels. I might add that 45 dba is still significant in terms of noise level. However, if that were the peak noise level we were experiencing perhaps we could get used to it.
The political process of permitting the turbines was extremely flawed, but that is history. We need to deal with the reality we are now confronted with. We can see the turbines from many places on our property in all seasons. However seeing them is not the major issue. The noise is a totally different story. The noise in our yards can often be extremely annoying and presently on most days and nights, we can not totally escape the noise even inside our homes. Beyond the noise (24/7/365) and the resulting loss of the quiet rural lifestyle we have been so fortunate to enjoy, there is the distinct probability that our homes and properties have been greatly diminished in value. Even though the turbines produce green energy they also are a business where some will profit while our homes and properties lose value.
We are not asking for your sympathy. Many of you have gone through personal challenges that far exceed the loss of money or a diminished quality of life. We do ask you to keep an open mind and realize that our struggle with Beaver Ridge LLC is more complicated than just being windnimbies. Hopefully the lessons learnt by this project will result in us being the last neighborhood in Maine to be subjected to (what we are learning every day) are inappropriate property line setbacks and inadequate distances from existing dwellings.
We remain hopeful that Beaver Ridge LLC will honor their word and make adjustments to the turbines in order to meet the promised noise levels. Until then we are compelled to keep the community informed of our unenviable situation.
I have posted a few videos on youtube. I hope these videos will give folks a little insight into what it is like living in the shadow of a 400' turbine and to get an idea of the noise levels we are currently experiencing. Finally, it gives me an opportunity to vent at a time that has been extremely stressful for me, my family and the Zane family. Public opinion can be a powerful force. So please check out the videos and feel free to share this email with others who you think might be concerned about the proper development of wind energy.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=philbloomstein&search_type=&aq=-1&oq=



Shadow flicker is a well-documented nuisance associated with Wind Turbines.So far the shadow flicker we have experienced lasts for about 50 minutes. I am sure it will vary in frequency, intensity and length from season to season.

In my limited research I have found documentation indicating that, in the planning of several wind turbine projects, studies were done to determine the shadow flicker effect on existing dwellings. No such study was done in planning the Freedom Project.

Flicker has been theorized to be associated "with complex symptoms including sleep disturbance, headache dizziness, vertigo, nausea and panic episodes ". There appears to be no current scientific research to prove these claims. The "annoyance and nuisance factor" is well documented.

When a wind turbine is built 1000' feet from your home shadow flicker, harmful or not, like it or not, becomes a part of your life.

Check out the video link below. Thanks for letting me share this with you. Please feel free to share this note with others interested in wind energy planning and development.

Phil Bloomstein

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XCA0_W9Qxs

Flicker in Freedom Story on VillageSoup website talking about flicker in Freedom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XCA0_W9Qxs Video referenced in above story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeioZrKnnMY&feature=related Freedom Windmills dBa Levels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VvD_SX37Kw&feature=channel_page Freedom Windmills Sound Level at night

Link to an article called, Wind Turbine and ...Health? http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/18/wind-turbines-and-health/

This is a link to several "MUST WATCH" Video's that include, "Welcome to Mars Hill" and "Wind Turbines at Tug Hill" and "Live under a wind plant", http://www.wind-watch.org/videos.php. The Freedom videos are here as well, http://www.wind-watch.org/video-freedom-maine.php.

This video, http://www.windturbinesyndrome.com/?page_id=922 features Dr. Black discussing Dr. Pierpont’s forthcoming Wind Turbine Syndrome report, which Dr. Black read in manuscript by KATU Television in Portland, OR.