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SUBMISSION TO THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL SENATE INQUIRY ON RURAL WIND FARMS 10th FEBRUARY, 2011 DR SARAH LAURIE BMBS (Flinders 1995) Awarded FRACGP 1999 Awarded FACCRM 2000 MEDICAL DIRECTOR WAUBRA FOUNDATION [email protected]
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INDEX Page
Executive Summary 3
Recommendations 5
Background 5
Formation of the Waubra Foundation 7
Relevant Literature 8
Studies by Medical Clinicians including Affected Residents 10
My Field Observations in Australia 13
Recent Developments 17
Consequent Effect of These Symptoms 19
Occupational Health & Safety Concerns 21
Mechanisms of Causation 22
The Nocebo Affect 27
Some Areas Requiring Further Independent Research 27
Other Important Health/Planning Issues – Fire 28
Other Relevant Issues 29
Failure of Process and Regulations 29
Recommendations (repeat) 32
Waubra Foundation Objectives 33
References 35
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EXECUTIVESUMMARY
1. Therearereportsfromaroundtheworldofpeoplelivingadjacenttowindturbine
developmentsbecomingunwellwiththesamerangeofsymptoms2. Thefewstudieswhichhavebeendonebyconcernedmedicalclinicianshave
consistentlyfoundtheseproblems3. ThemedicalevidencewhichexistsfromDrPierpont’slandmarkpeerreviewedcase
seriescrossoverstudyclearlylinksexposuretoturbineswiththesymptomsbeingdescribed
4. Notalladjacentresidentsareaffected5. Somedevelopmentsappeartohavemoreseriouslyaffectedresidentsthanothers6. Someresidentsareaffectedimmediately,othersareprogressivelyaffectedover
weekstomonthsofconstantexposure7. Chronicexposureappearstohaveacumulativeeffect8. Thetimetakentoachievefullresolutionofsymptomsisproportionaltothetime
exposedtoturbines9. Notallsymptomsarereversibleafterchronicexposure,whenaffectedresidents
moveaway10. Someextremelyillresidentsindesperationhavesignedconfidentiality
agreementswithwinddevelopers,whohavepurchasedtheirproperties,inexchangeforagreeingnottotalkpubliclyabouttheirhealthproblems,inordertoleavetheirhomesandregaintheirhealth.
11. Residentsaredescribingsymptomsfromadistanceofupto10kmawayfromthe
nearestturbine
12. Elevationsofbloodpressureassociatedwithproximitytooperatingturbinesareanemergingissue
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13. Somepeopleappearparticularlyvulnerabletodevelopingwindturbinesyndrome
symptoms,andtheyincludechildrenandtheelderly14. Thereanumberofpossiblemechanismsforthesesymptomsandtheyinclude
butarenotlimitedto:
• Audiblenoisecausingchronicsleepdeprivation(weknowfromaffectedresidentsthatwindturbinescanbeverynoisy,bothupwindanddownwind)
• Windturbinespecificpulsatileinfrasoundandlowfrequencynoisecausingmanyofthesymptomsofwindturbinesyndrome(probable,basedoncurrentbutlimitedexperimentalevidence,andrecentmeasurementofwindturbinespecificpulsatileinfrasound)
• Possiblehealtheffectsfromelectromagneticradiationissuesinafewspecificcases–insitumeasurementrequiredinitiallyinthesehomestodetermineifthisisanissueforfurtherinvestigation
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RECOMMENDATIONS1. ThereisanurgentneedforfurtherINDEPENDENTmedical,acousticandscientific
research,lookingspecificallyatthepopulationsaffectedbythecurrentlyconstructedandoperatingwinddevelopmentsinAustralia
2. Animmediatetemporaryhaltinconstructionofwindturbinescloserthan10kmto
humanhabitationuntiladequateresearchiscompleted,inordertodeterminewhatisasafesetbackofturbinesfromhomesandworkplaces
3. Currentplanningandnoiseguidelineswillneedtobeupdatedonthebasisofthis
newknowledge4. Thereshouldbeanimmediatebanontheoperationofwindturbinesondaysof
high,extremeandcatastrophicfiredanger,becauseofthedifficultiesinfightingsuchfires,andtherisktolivesshouldsuchafireoccur
5. Measurementofwindturbinespecificinfrasoundandlowfrequencysoundneeds
tobeincludedinpostconstructionnoiseassessments,andALLtheseassessmentsMUSTbeperformedbyexperiencedAcousticianswhoareCOMPLETELYINDEPENDENTofthewinddevelopers
BACKGROUND
MynameisDrSarahLaurie,andIamalegallyqualifiedMedicalPractitioner(BachelorofMedicine,BachelorofSurgeryFlindersUniversity1995),withsubsequentcompletedpostgraduatetrainingasaRuralGeneralPractitioner(FellowshipoftheRoyalAustralianCollegeofGeneralPractitioners(FRACGP)1999,andFellowshipoftheAustralianCollegeofRemoteandRuralMedicine(FACCRM)2000).IhaveservedasanexaminerwiththeRACGP,andamemberontheSouthAustralianAMAStateCouncil.MyworkasaRuralGPhasbeenexclusivelyinSouthAustralia,predominantlyatCrystalBrook,butalsoincludedBalaklava,PortPirieAboriginalCommunityHealthCentre,andNganampaHealthCouncilontheAPYlands.IhaveaparticularinterestinMentalHealth,andwastheMidNorthDivisionofGeneralPracticeRepresentativeonthelocalMentalHealthAdvisorycommittee.
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Since2002Ihavebeenonleavefrommyprofession,becauseofpersonalandfamilyhealthissuesandextendedfamilycaringresponsibilities.IwaspreparingtoreturntomycareerasapracticingruralGeneralPractitionerinMarch/AprillastyearwhenIbecameawareofaproposedwindturbinedevelopmentforthehillsadjacenttomyhome,whereIlivewithmyhusbandandsevenyearoldtwins.OriginEnergyaretheproponents,andtheinitialmaponeoftheiremployeespresentedatacommunitymeetingshowedthatthereweretobefiveturbinesatapproximately1kmfrommyhome,withatotalofapproximately90turbinesspreadalongaridgeofapproximately15km.Thereareapproximately90peoplewhowillbewithin3kmofthisdevelopment.ItoldtheOriginEnergyPRemployeewhorangmetotellmeoftheproposalthatIhadnoobjections,andindeedsupportedtheproject,becauseofmylongstandingconcernsaboutclimatechange/globalwarming,andmyconcernsaboutthefinancialproblemsfacedbyfarmers(someofwhomhadpreviouslybeenmypatients)andtheissuesruralfamiliesfacebecauseoflackoflocalemploymentopportunitiesfortheirchildren.Idid,however,saythatmysupportwasontheassumptionthattherewerenoadversehealthconcerns,asIhadreadanarticleinaneditionofTheAustralianweekendmagazineaboutacouplefromBallaratwhohadreportedbecomingunwellafteraturbinedevelopmentstartedoperatingneartheirhome.TheOriginemployeewasveryquicktoreassuremethat“justthatweek,theChiefHealthOfficerofVictoriahadissuedapublicstatementtotheeffectthattherewasnoevidenceofanyadversehealtheffectsfromwindturbines”.Iwasreassuredbythat,atthetime.However,amonthlater,aneighbourpresentedmewithDrAmandaHarry’sstudy,andafterreadingthisIwasimmediatelyveryconcernedthattherewereindeedsomeserioushealthproblemsemerging.DrHarrywasaruralGeneralPractitionerintheUK,whodidacommunitysurveyafterbecomingawareofanewpatternofsymptomsandhealthproblemsemergingafteraturbinedevelopmenthadcommencedoperationclosetowhereshewaspracticingmedicine.IalsobecameawareofaRuralAustralianGP,DrDavidIser,fromToorainVictoria,whohaddonehisownsmallstudy,basedonDrHarry’ssurvey.DrIserhadfoundasimilarrangeofproblems,someofwhichwereserious.WhenIcontactedDrIsertoaskhimmoreabouthisexperienceshetoldmethatmostoftheaffectedresidentshadsinceleftthedistrictandwerethereforenolongerhispatients.DrIsermentionedthat
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someformerresidentswhosehealthhadbeenparticularlybadlyimpactedhadbeenboughtoutbythedeveloper,butonlyiftheysignedconfidentiality(“gag”)agreements,whichspecificallypreventedthemfromtalkingpubliclyabouttheirhealthproblems.Ihavesincelearnedfrommyinternationalcolleaguesthatsuchpracticeiswidespreadincountrieswithindustrialwinddevelopments.Ithendecidedtodevotemytimeintoresearchingtheissuemorethoroughly.BythetimeIspokeatapublicmeetingatLauraon18thJuly,2010Iwasconvincedtherewasaveryrealproblem,thatitwasglobal,andthattherewasasignificantlackofprimaryresearchintothehealtheffectsbeingdescribedbyadjacentaffectedresidents.Forexample,nowhereintheworldhadapopulationorepidemiologicalstudyoftheadversehealtheffectsbeenconducted.Giventheexistenceof“gag”agreements,whosekeypurposecouldbetokeeptheadversehealtheffectsstoryoutofthepublicarenaandinparticularscrutinybyhealthauthorities,thiswashardlysurprising.Whatresearchtherewas,however,donebyMedicalPractitionerswhowereactuallyseeingpatientsorconductingpatientinterviews,showedthatthereweresignificantandseriousproblemsbeingreported,includingpeopleresortingtowalkingawayfromtheirhomes.FORMATIONOFTHEWAUBRAFOUNDATIONInlateJuly2010,IwascontactedbyMr.PeterMitchell,fromVictoria,whohadsetupthestructureofanotforprofitorganizationhehadcalledtheWaubraFoundation,tohelpfurthertheprogressoffacilitatingandcommissioningindependentresearchintotheadversehealtheffectsbeingreportedinresidentsadjacenttowindturbinesinAustralia.MrMitchellwaslookingforsomeonetohelpruntheFoundation,andIagreedtohelphim.Myexpensesincurredinworkingonthisissuehavebeenfundedbymyhusband,andsomehavebeenreimbursedbyfarmersandneighbourswhohaveaskedmetotraveltohelpeducatetheircommunities.Ihavedonatedmytimeinavoluntarycapacity,oftenworking18hoursaday.TheaimsoftheWaubraFoundationaremultiplebutinsummarytheyare:
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1. Toactasacatalysttoensurethatthebestqualityindependentacoustic,scientificandmedicalresearchisurgentlydoneintotheadversehealtheffectsofwindturbinesbeingreported
2. Tosupportaffectedresidents
3. Toprovideinformationtohealthprofessionalstreatingsuchaffectedresidents,andfacilitateinformationsharingamongstthosehealthprofessionalsbothnationallyandinternationally
4. Toprovideinformationtocommunitieswhoarebeingtargetedbywinddevelopers,wherethoseproposeddevelopmentsarecloserthan10kmtohomesandworkplaces
5. Tolobbygovernment,toensurethattheseseriousconcernsareaddressedand
consideredbyhealthandplanningauthorities,andotherrelevantindividuals
Forfurtherinformation,pleaseseetheWaubraFoundationObjectivesonPage33.
Importantly,theWaubraFoundationdoesnottakeaproorantiwindposition,andourendeavoursaretoensurethatwindturbinesaresitedsothattheywillnotadverselyimpacthumanhealth,iftheyareusedaspartofarenewableenergystrategy.RELEVANTLITERATUREIwillnotgointothedetailsofmypersonalliteraturereviewhere,butinsteadrefereveryonetotherecentscholarlyworkonthistopicsubmittedtothisinquirybymyCanadiancolleague,DrRobertMcMurtry,withwhichIconcur.DrMcMurtryisthecofounderofanorganizationwithsimilaraimstotheWaubraFoundationinCanada,calledtheSocietyforWindVigilance(windvigilance.com).TheSocietyconvenedthefirstInternationalSymposiumoftheAdverseHealthEffectsofWindTurbinesinOntario,inlateOctoberlastyear,whichIattended.NorwillIcommentspecificallyontheAustralianNationalHealthandMedicalResearchCouncildocumententitledthe“RapidReviewoftheEvidence”relatingtotheadversehealtheffectsofwindturbineswhichwasreleasedinJuly2010.Thisdocumenthas
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beenextensivelycritiquedbyothers,includingtheSocietyforWindVigilance(pleaseseeHasteMakesWaste,onwindvigilance.com).IwillsaythatafterreadingthatNH&MRCdocumentwhenitwasreleasedinJuly2010,Ibecameextremelyconcernedforanumberofreasons:
• itsheavyrelianceonwhatwereobviouslywindindustrysponsored“reports/reviews/studies”wheretherewasanobviousconflictofinterest,withouttheauthor(s)appearingtoperceivethis.
• Thewayinwhichtheunknownauthor(s)dismissedDrPierpont’swork–itwasnotcleartomethattheauthor(s)hadactuallyreadandunderstoodDrPierpont’sstudy,orreadthedetailedcasestudy/rawdatasectionofherbook.Theircriticismsofherworkappearedtomimicwindindustrycomments,ratherthanathoroughcriticalanalysisoftheonedetailedpeerreviewedstudyavailable,byaqualifiedmedicalpractitioner.
• theredidnotseemtobeanyunderstandingthattherewas“noevidence”
becausesolittleresearchhadbeendone,ratherthanthattherewas“noproblem”.
• Thelackofidentityoftheauthor(s).Iamparticularlyinterestedtofindoutifa
medicalpractitionerorpractitioners,experiencedintakingclinicalhistoriesfrompatients,werepartofthisrapidreview.Todate,theauthor(s)ofthisreviewremainamystery.
Despitetheseandotherseriousinadequacieswhichhavebeenhighlightedbymanynationallyandinternationally,thisNH&MRCreportinparticularhasbeenextensivelyrelieduponpubliclybythewindindustry,despiteemployeesintheindustryclearlybeingawareofthesehealthproblemswhentheyhavesignedagreementswith‘gag’clauses,withaffectedresidents.Somewindindustryemployeeshaveprivatelyadmittedthistome,andencouragedmewiththeWaubraFoundation’swork,astheyalsoknowthiscurrentsituationiswrong,andshouldnotbeallowedtocontinue.ThisNH&MRCdocumenthasalsobeenextensivelyrelieduponbypoliticiansandpublicservantsatalllevelsofGovernmentinAustralia.Inparticular,therespectivehealthandplanningpoliticiansandpublicservantshavekeptreferringtoit,concurrentlyignoringtheescalatingreportsofillhealththeyaredirectlyreceivingfromaffected
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residents,withoutmakinganyplanstocommissionorfundanyindependentresearchtoinvestigatetheseserioushealthconcerns,oranyplanstochangecurrentplanningguidelineswhichdetermineappropriatesitingofwindturbinedevelopments.Inmyopinion,thissituationcannotbeallowedtocontinue.STUDIESBYMEDICALCLINICIANS,INVOLVINGAFFECTEDRESIDENTSTherehavebeenanincreasingnumberofreportsfromaroundtheworldparticularlyinthelast10years,ofpeopleadjacenttowinddevelopmentsdevelopingarangeofsymptomsnotpreviouslydescribedinthemedicalliterature.Atthesametimetheturbinesaregettingtaller,thebladeslonger,bothfactorsincreasingtheirpoweroutputbutalsotheirnoiseemissions,andtheyarebeingbuiltclosertolargerruralpopulations,inordertobeclosetotransmissionlines.ThefirstMedicalPractitionertodescribethenewillnessinaformalstudywasaUKruralGP(DrAmandaHarry),whocarriedoutacommunitysurveyafterherpatientspresentedtoherwithnewsymptomsandhealthproblems,whichtheydevelopedafterlargewindturbinescommencedoperationnearhervillageinCornwall.SubsequentlyanAustralianGPDrDavidIser(Toora,Victoria)documentedthesamerangeofconditions,usingDrHarry'sinitialsurveyform.FollowupworkbytheCanadianWindVigilanceSociety'sWindVOICE,cofoundedbyDrRobertMcMurtry,usedDrAmandaHarry'ssurveyasabasisfortheirselfreportingsurvey,andfoundexactlythesamerangeofsymptomsbeingreported,inruralOntario(pleaseseewindvigilanc.comfortheWindVOICEsurveyreports).DrNinaPierpont(anAmericanRuralPaediatrician)progressedtheresearchbyperformingthelandmarkstudywhichexaminedtheindividualcasehistoriesofthemembersof10familiesfromaroundtheworld,whohadlivedadjacenttowinddevelopments,andbecomesounwellthattheyneededtoleavetheirhomes.Shemeticulouslyrecordeddetailsoftheirhealthpriorto,during,andafterexposuretotheturbines,aftertheyhadlefttheirhomesbecauseofsevereillhealthinoneormorefamilymembers.Whatshedescribedwasapatternofsymptomswhichdevelopedorwereexacerbatedbytheoperationoftheturbines,andwhichdisappearedwhenthesubjectslefttheirhomes,onlytoreturnagainwhentheyreturnedbacktotheirhomes.Shecalledtheconstellationofsymptoms"WindTurbine
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Syndrome".Herstudy,togetherwiththerawdata/casehistories,hasbeenpublishedinabookwiththesamename,availablefromwindturbinesyndrome.com,andsubmittedbyhertotheSenateInquiry.Unfortunately,thesepracticingclinician'sreportsandstudiestodatehavebeencompletelyignoredbyhealthauthoritiesglobally,whocontinuetoprefertorelyparticularlyonwindindustrysponsoredreviewsor"independent"studies,forexampletheAWEA/CANWEAfundedreviewbyColbyetal(2009),withoutseemingtounderstandthereisamajorconflictofinterest.DrRobertMcMurtryalsohighlightsthisimportantpoint,inhissubmissiontotheSenate.Otherresearchersincludingacousticiansandmedicalsociologistshavecompletedlargestudiesonnoiseandannoyance,(particularlyinScandinavia).Attimes,theyhavepurportedtoexamine“healtheffects”.IreferreadersagaintoDrMcMurtry’sreporttotheSenateforhisdiscussionofthisliterature.InoteDrPierpont’slettertoDrLeventhallonthematterofacousticianscommentingonmedicaldiagnoses,submittedaspartofherevidence.Icanonlyconcurwithherwords.AcousticiansandMedicalSociologistsarenotmedicalpractitioners,theyarenottrainedtoelicitsymptomsordetectnewillnesses.Astheydonothavetherequisitespecifictrainingintakingasymptomhistoryfromapatient,andassessingthemeaningofthosesymptomdescriptions,theyareinnopositiontomakeanycommentsontheaccuracyorotherwiseofthediagnosticandsymptomdescriptionsofDrHarry,DrIser,orDrPierpont’swork,noraretheyinapositiontoaccuratelyandthoroughlycarryoutsuchanassessmentthemselves.DrPierpont'sdetractorsclaimherstudyisnothingmorethanacollectionofanecdotes,whichisuntrue‐itisacaseseriescrossoverdesign,whichclearlyshowsthechangeswhichoccurredinthosesubjectswithexposuretotheturbines,andwhathappenedaftertheyleft(almostcompleteresolutionofthesymptoms).Detractorsclaimitisnotpeerreviewed,whichisalsountrue,ithasbeenextensivelyreviewedandrefereedbyanumberofeminentpeers,expertsintheirparticularfield(alsopublishedinthebook,andsubmittedbyDrPierpontinherevidencetothisSenateInquiry).Detractorsalsodenigrateitforbeingselfpublished.DrPierpont'sreasonsfordoingthisweremultiple;thestudyitselfwastoolongtobepublishedinapeerreviewed
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medicaljournal,anditwasimpossibletocutitdownfurtherwithoutcompromisingthecompletenessofthestudy.PhDpapersareinasimilarposition–theyarefartoolongtobepublishedinajournal,buttheyareimportantbodiesofworkwhicharealsopeerreviewed,andcontributetonewknowledgeaboutaparticularsubject.Shewasalsokeentomakeitfreelyavailabletothemanyaffectedpeopleacrosstheworld,whowerecontactingherforinformation,atthelowestpossibleprice.Afterseekingadvicefromcolleagues,DrPierpontdecidedherstudywasmostvaluableaccompaniedwiththecasehistoriesorrawdata,asmuchofthedescriptionofthesenewsymptomsneededtobeinthesubject'sownwordstoretainmaximumaccuracy.DrPierpontwasalsokeenforherworktobeaccessibletolaypeoplewithnounderstandingofmedicalconcepts.Thiswastohelpaffectedresidentsunderstandasmuchaspossibleabouttheillnesstheyortheirrelativeswereexperiencing;includingthesymptoms,andtheknownscienceatthetimewhichcouldhelptoexplainthesymptoms.DrPierpontdidnotclaimherworkwastheonlyworkrequiredonthetopic,sheclearlyoutlinedtheneedforfurtherresearch,todeterminetheexactmechanismsforcausationofthesesymptoms,particularlyinvolvinglowfrequencysound(20‐200Hz)andinfrasound(0‐20Hz).Herbookhasnowbeenpublishedinmultipledifferentlanguages,testamenttoboththeimportanceofherclinicalresearch,andtheextentoftheincreasingepidemicofwindturbinesyndromeacrosstheworld.AfterlisteningnowtomanyaffectedresidentsinAustraliaandsomeinCanada,itismyexperiencethatDrPierpont’sreportsofpatient’sowndescriptionsoftheirsymptomsinherstudyareidenticaltothosebeingdescribedtomebyaffectedresidentsinAustralia;mostofwhomhadnopriorknowledgeofher,orherwork.OtherMedicalPractitionerswhohavesubsequentlybecomeconcernedandinvolvedintheinternationalresearcheffortincludeDrRobertMcMurtry(Canada),DrMichaelNissenbaum(USA),DrChristopherHanning(UK),andDrNoelKerin(Canada).SomeoftheAcousticianswithextensiveexperienceinthisfieldofworkwhoareindependentofthewindindustryandveryconcernedaboutwhatisgoingonincludeDrBobThorne(Australia&NZ),MrRickJames(USA),MrGeorgeKamperman(USA),andDrDanielShepherd(NewZealand).ThereareotherAcousticians,similarlyindependentofthewindindustry,whoarealsoveryconcerned.
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ThemostrecentcompletedclinicalresearchdonewasdonebyDrMichaelNissenbaum,andinvolveddatacollectedfromtwowindturbinedevelopmentsinNorthAmerica,atMaineandVinalhaven.DrNissenbaumpresentedsomeofthisresearchattheconferenceinOntarioinOctober.Itisnowawaitingpublicationinapeerreviewedjournal,andhenceisnotyetinthepublicdomain.Initheshowedthatthereisaclearrelationshipbetweenthedistanceaturbineisfromahome,andvarioushealthindicatorsofresidents,whichincludedsleepquality,depression,andqualityoflife(usinginternationallyvalidatedquestionnaires).MYFIELDOBSERVATIONSINAUSTRALIAThesymptomsandhealthproblemswelldescribedbythedoctorsmentionedabove,areabsolutelyidenticaltothesymptomswhichhavebeendescribedtome,inmyinterviewswithover60affectedresidentsfromwinddevelopmentsinNSW(Cullerin,CrookwellandCapital),Victoria(Toora,CapeBridgewaterandWaubra)andSouthAustralia(MtBryan&Waterloo).InformationfromthoseinterviewshavebeenprovidedtothisSenateInquiryconfidentiallyinadeidentifiedstate,inordertofurtherprotectindividualprivacy.ManyoftheseindividualsIhaveinterviewedhadneverheardofDrNinaPierpont,orWindTurbineSyndrome.Indeed,ItoohadnotreadherbookbeforeIinterviewedthefirstthirtyresidents,butthiswasdeliberate,soIwasabletoapproachtheirinterviewswithacompletelyopenmind.Myfirstquestionwas“Haveyounoticedanychangessincetheturbinesstartedoperatinginyourarea?”.Furtherclarificationwassoughtasnecessary.Someoftheseinterviewshavebeenconductedoverthephone,andonmultipleoccasions.Theyareanongoingworkinprogress,andarebeingusedtodeterminefutureresearchprioritiesforindependentresearcherstopursue.ManypeopleIhaveinterviewedhadnoideathatthesesymptomstheyhadindividuallynoticedwereinanywayrelatedtotheturbines.Theirknowledgeoftheirsymptomshasbeengreatlyinformedbystartingtokeeppersonalhealthjournals,whichhaveenabledthemtoseetheconnectionsbetweenturbineoperationandtheirsymptoms.ThishashadtheadditionalbenefitofassistingsomeoftheirGP’stoalsoseetheconnections,inparticularwithbloodpressurechanges.
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IhavenowspokendirectlywithRuralMedicalPractitioners(GeneralPractitionersandSpecialists)fromPortland,Ballarat,Clunes,Toora,andBungendore,whoareconcernedaboutthesymptomsbeingexperiencedandthedeterioratinghealthandsleeppatternsoftheirpatients.Thesymptomsarecharacterisedbydevelopingaftertheturbinescommenceoperatingintheirneighbourhood,andarebeingnotedupto10kmawayfromthenearestturbinesinbothSouthAustralia(MtBryan&Waterloo)andNewSouthWales(Cullerin).Sometimespeopledevelopsymptomsstraightaway,butmorecommonlynothingisnoticedforafewweekstomonthsapartfromtheaudiblenoise,andthegeneralpatternisthatslowly,symptomsseemtoprogressinseverity.Sometimespeoplehavedescribedaparticulareventofexposurewheretheyfeltveryunwell,andafterthattheyseemtobecomerapidlyworseintermsofsymptomsexperienced.Oftenpeopledescribeonlyrealizinghowunwelltheyhavefeltwhentheygoawayforoveraweek,anditiswhentheyreturnthattheysuddenlynoticethesymptomsreturn,seeminglyworsethanbefore.Somepreexistingconditionssuchasmigraines,highbloodpressureandtinnitusarenotedbyaffectedresidentstogetworse,withexposuretoturbines.Itisimportanttonotethatnoteveryoneisadverselyaffectedbytheturbines.Thisindividualvariabilityisalsonotedinlaboratoryexperimentswhichexaminetheeffectofinfrasoundonbloodpressureandheartrate(Qibai&Shi),andworkperformance(PerrsonWayeetal).Thelongerpeopleareexposedtotheturbines(months–years),thelongeritistakingfortheirsymptomstodisappear,iftheymoveaway.Disturbingly,somepeoplearereportingthatsomesymptomsappeartobepersisting,evenaftertheyhavenotlivedattheirhomesforoverayear.Theseparticularlyincludetinnitus,extremenoisesensitivity(hyperacusis)andimpairedmemory.Inmyexperience,residentswhoareaffectedandhavelivednearturbinedevelopmentsformorethan6months,aregenerallyabletoaccuratelypredictwhichdirectionthewindisblowingfrombythesymptomstheyareexperiencing,andcanalsotellwithoutlookingwhetherornottheturbinesareoperating,onthebasisofthesymptomstheyareexperiencing,evenwhentheycannothearorseetheturbines.
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SymptomswhichhavebeendescribedtomebyAustralianaffectedresidentsincludebutarenotlimitedtothefollowing:Severechronicsleepdeprivation:
• fromtheaudibleturbinenoise,• fromwakingupanxiousandhyperalert,inapanickedstate,fornogoodreason,
andoftenanumberoftimesanight.Theydescribebeingsoinstantlyawakethatittakesalongtimetogetbacktosleepagain.Theseresidentsoftentellmethattheycannotheartheaudibleturbinenoiseatthetime
• frommarkedlyincreasednocturnalurination–oftenexperiencedbymanypeopleatthesametimeinthesamehousehold
• forparents,newlydisturbedsleepoftheirchildrenisanadditionalcontributortotheirownsleepdeprivation,andthiscanincluderegularbedwetting(whenpreviouslydryatnightforsomeyears)andwakingupwithnightterrors
• wakingupinthemorningnotrememberingthattheyhadwokenup,butneverthelessnotfeelingatallrefreshed
• tryingtogettosleep,orbacktosleephavingbeenwokenupduringthenight,inabedwhichisliterallyvibrating
Severefrequentheadaches:• describingtheirheadfeelingasifitwas“inavice”,orwitha“tightswimmingcap
on”(somechildrenalsobadlyaffectedbythis,havingpreviouslyrarelysufferedfromheadaches)
• significantexacerbationofthefrequencyandseverityoftheirmigraines,particularlybutnotexclusivelyfromshadowflicker.Somepeopledescribetheirmigrainesbeingtriggeredbyjustafewsecondsofshadowflicker,enoughtoputthemoutofactionfor24hours
• frequentsevereheadachesinchildrenwhohaveneverpreviouslycomplainedofthem
tinnitus(buzzing/ringinginoneorbothears,bothnewonsetandexacerbationofapreexistingcondition)earpressuresensations(inoneorbothears,uncomfortableandsometimespainful,especiallyifprevioustympanicmembranesurgery&scarring)hyperacusis(extremenoisesensitivityto'normal'sounds)
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nausea(sometimessevere)motionsickness,vertigosymptoms,andbalancedisturbances,particularlywithresidentsagedover60withchronicexposurevisualblurring,whichonlyoccurswithturbineoperation.Somearealsodescribingsensitivitytoflourolights,particularlyinsupermarkets,wheretheyareunabletoseedetailinpeople’sfacesirritability,extremeanger,andothermooddisturbances
• thisisalsobeingdescribedbycurrentandformerworkersontheturbines,orisbeingobservedbytheirpartners.Theseindividualsdonotgenerallyhavetheadditionalnighttimeexposuretooperatingturbines,unlesstheyalsoliveadjacenttotheturbinedevelopment.
memoryandcognitivedeficits,• increasewithprolongedexposure,anddonotalwayscompletelyresolvewith
relocationawayfromtheturbines• particularlybeingnotedinrelationtoschoolchildrenlivingand/orattending
schoolclosetoturbines,byparentsandbyteachers.Appeartoresolve(accordingtoparents)withrelocationofhomeandattendingadifferentschoolinanareanotexposedtoturbines
depression,sometimessevere,withsuicidalideationanxiety,sometimesacutelysevere,withepisodesofextremepanic,sometimeswakingthemupatnight(asmentionedpreviously,childrenarewakingwithnightterrors,andbedwetting,neverpreviouslyexperienced)highbloodpressure(hypertension)whichcanbeanewproblem,oranexacerbationofapreviouscondition,andwhichissometimesoccurringinconjunctionwithothersymptomssuggestiveofanacutehypertensivecrisistachycardia,coincidingwithturbineoperationbodyvibrations,whichpeopledescribeparticularlyintheirchest,theirabdomen,theirlowerlimbswhilstinbed,andalsotheirupperlip.Sometimesthisupperlipvibrationis
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visibletoothersRECENTDEVELOPMENTSMostrecentlyinAustraliaandinCanadaIhaveheardmultipledescriptionsofangina,chesttightness,andheartattacksoccurringwhentheturbinesareoperating.Thesehaveoccurredatanumberofdifferentwinddevelopments,inallthreestates,andrequireurgentfurtherthoroughinvestigationandanalysis.IamhearingfrommyCanadiancolleaguesthatthesamereportsareemergingthere,inadditiontotheonesIheardaboutdirectlyfromaffectedresidentsinOntarioinOctober2010.Someheartattacksareoccurringinpatientswhodonotappeartohaveanysignsofarterialblockagefromsubsequentangiograms,performedbytheirtreatingcardiologists.ThereisaconditionwhichisnowdescribedasTakoTsubo,inwhichsuddenshockiscausingmyocardialdysfunction,andrecentJapaneseresearchhashighlightedtherolewhichstresshormonesincludingadrenalineappeartobeplayinginthiscondition.Thereisalsoexperimentalresearchwhichhasshownanincreaseinsecretionofstresshormonesincludingcortisolandadrenaline,andalsoevidenceofmyocardialdamageinanimalssubjectedtoinfrasoundexposure.(NIEHSToxicologyofInfrasoundreview,2001)AtWaubraparticularly,anumberofaffectedresidentshavestartedmeasuringtheirbloodpressuresatmultipletimesduringthedayandovernight,andsomearefindingthatboththeirbloodpressuresandtheirheartratesaremarkedlyelevatedwhentheturbinesareoperating,butdecreasewheneithertheyareawayfromhome,orwhentheturbinesareturnedoffforanylengthoftime(days).Manyofthesepatientsdidnothavehighbloodpressurepriortotheturbinesoperating,asmeasuredbytheirGPsintheirsurgeries.Someofthebloodpressureincreasesbeingreportedtomeincludeanincreaseinsystolicbloodpressureofupto80mmHgwhentheturbinesareoperating.Belowisanextractfromanemailsenttomerecentlybyanaffectedresident,whohasrealizedthathisbloodpressureproblemscouldbeconnectedwiththeturbines:“Lastnightwasthefirstnightforamonththatwehadconstantwesterlies.Noisewaslowtoaverage.HowevertheBPreadingsareofinterest.6weeksagoatmyregular
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medical,mybloodpressurewas120/75.Lastnightonarrivinghomefromadayout,itwas107/78;and12hourslaterafteranightofconstantturbinenoise,150/79”
Ihavealsobeentoldofepisodesofextremelyhighbloodpressureinconjunctionwithsevereheadachesandnausea,asensationofone’sheartleapingoutofone’schest,anda“senseofimpendingdoom”.Thisclinicaldescriptionisidenticaltothatdescribedbypatientsexperiencingacutehypertensivecrises.Suchaclinicalconditionhaspreviouslybeendescribedinconjunctionwiththeclinicaluseofexcessadrenaline,andwithaveryrareadrenaltumourcalledaphaeochromocytoma.Insomeoftheaffectedresidentswherethisclinicalsituationhasbeendescribed,boththeseexplanationsfortheirsymptomshavebeenpositivelyexcluded.Thecauseoftheseepisodesisstillunknown.Oneaffectedresidenthashadfiveepisodesofthis,onlyeveroccurringwhentheturbinesareturning.Furtherindependentresearchisurgentlyrequired,assomeoftheseclinicaleffectsareoccurringatgreaterdistancesthanpreviouslydescribed(especiallysomeofthebodyvibrations).Specifically,hypertensioninconjunctionwithturbineoperationhasbeenreportedupto5kmaway,andbodyvibrationsandnocturnalwakeninginapanickedstateupto10km.Acousticiansindependentofthewindindustryhaveconfirmedtomethatwhentheselargemodernturbinesareplacedonridges,andthereisatemperatureinversioneffectorcloudyweather,soundwaves(audibleandinfrasound)theygeneratecouldcertainlytravelthatdistance,particularlyintheweatherconditionsdescribed.ObservedMentalHealthIssuesSpecificmentionneedstobemadeoftheextentandseverityofpsychiatricmorbiditybeingdescribedbyaffectedresidents.Thisisverynoticeable,andisevidentbothinthepopulationscurrentlyexposedtoturbines,butalsothosewhoarethesubjectofproposeddevelopments.Ibelievethesocialdivisionwhichiscreatedandamplifiedbytheactivitiesandstrategiesofthewinddevelopers(includingspecificallytheconfidentialityagreementsandthesecrecywhichsurroundstheproposals)isdirectlyresponsibleformuchofthismorbidity.Ihavebeentoldonmanyoccasionsbyaffectedresidentsthatithasdestroyedthelong
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standingcloseknitfabricofallthesmallcommunitiesIhavebeento,andhassetfamilymembersandoldfriendsagainsteachother,dividedchurchcongregationsandschoolcommunities,andcreatedriftsinimportantruralsocialandservicenetworkssuchastheCWA,theCFA/CFS,tonamejustafewexamples.ResidentsofruralcommunitiesinAustraliaalreadyhavesignificantstressors,includingtheeffectofthelongtermdroughtwhichhasrecentlybeenexperiencedinmuchofsoutheasternAustralia,followedbytherecentfloods.Theyaresignificantlydisadvantagedwithrespecttoaccesstohealthcare,particularlymentalhealthcare.Theydonotneedtheextraburdenofseriouspsychiatricillnesswhichtheseturbinedevelopmentsarecurrentlycontributingto.Thereisanurgentneedtoproperlyassess,measureanddescribewhatisactuallygoingoninthesecommunitieswithrespecttomentalhealthissues,andtoensurethattheappropriatehelpismadeavailable.Themostpositivestartwouldbeformalacknowledgementthattheseareseriouspsychiatricillnesses,ratherthanbeingdismissedas“psychosomatic”.Fortoolong,nonmedicalprofessionals(medicalsociologistsandacousticiansparticularly)withnoclinicaldiagnosticexpertiseortraininghavedominatedtheanalysis,discussion,andstudyoftheseproblems.CONSEQUENTEFFECTOFTHESESYMPTOMS,ILLNESSESANDSOCIALDIVISIONONDAILYLIFE–someexamplesofthehiddencostsDrRobertMcMurtry,inhissubmissiontothisinquiry,haswelldescribedthecurrentstateofknowledgeintherelevantmedicalliterature,particularlywithrespecttothemultipleseriousadversehealthconsequencesfromsleepdeprivation,noise,andstress.Others,suchasProfessorArlineBronzaft,havemadespecificreferencetoparticularsituations,suchaschildren,andtheeffectofnoise.FromwhatIhaveseenandheard,theoveralleffectontheirdaytodaylives,forthosepeopleandtheirfamiliesaffectedbytheturbines,isprofound.Anothereffecthasbeentheextensiveandextraordinarilydamagingcommunitydivisionwhichthesedevelopmentshavedirectlyresultedin,oftenbeforetheyhaveevenbeenbuilt.IhavelistedsomerelevantspecificexamplesIhavedirectknowledgeofbelow:
• severesleepdeprivationresultinginpeopledescribingmicrosleepswhenthey
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aredriving,withmultiple‘nearmisses’,andreportedincreasedfrequencyoffarmingaccidents
• office/businessworkersfindingtheirchronicsleepdeprivationisseverelyaffectingtheirworkperformance,andunabletodoanythingaboutit–apartfromtakeworkhometotryandkeepup,resultinginyetmorestress.Somehavehadtoleavepaidemployment,somearefindingitveryhardtofindsubsequentemploymentandkeepit
• visciouscircleofsleepdeprivationaffectingmentalhealthwhichthenaffects
sleepadversely,whichfurtheraffectsmentalhealth,especiallyanxietyanddepression.ThereislittleGP’scansuggesttohelp,otherthansleepingtablets(addictive&riskoffalls),ortomove
• Peoplecan’tmoveiftheirhouseisunsaleable,andtheyhavenootherfinancial
assets.Alltoooften,Ihavebeentoldthisisthecase.Onepersonhashadhispropertyonthemarketforover10years,withnobuyerswhentheydiscoveritisnearawinddevelopment.Manypeopleaffectedareclosetoretirementage,andhavenowayofgeneratingtheresourcesneededtomove.Theyareliterallytrapped,inwhatsomedescribeasa“livinghell”
• familiesarebeingsplit,becauseofadversehealthimpactsonsomemembers,
whocannotstaylivinginthefamilyhome.Thishasparticularlybeenthecasewithsomefamilieswithyoungchildren,andiscausingextremefinancialandemotionalhardshipforthosefamilies
• Marriagesareundersignificantextrapressure,particularlyifonepersonwants
theturbines,andthepartnerdoesnot,andaparentorthechildrensubsequentlygetsick
• Somepeopleareselfmedicatingtheirdepressionandanxietysymptomswith
alcohol,withpredictableandseriousconsequencesforthemselves&theirrelatives
• longstandingextendedfamilymembersarenolongertalkingtoeachother,
directlyasaresultoverconflictconcerningturbines.Inpreviouslytightknitruralcommunities,thisishavingadevastatingeffectonlongstandingcommunityandfamilyrelationships
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• concernfromextendedfamilymemberswheretherearefamilieswhoare
hostingturbinesandthereisreluctancetogethelpforvulnerablemembersofthosefamilieswhoarebeingseverelyaffected(particularlyelderlyparentsandchildren)–Ihavedirectknowledgeofanumberofthesesituations,fromconcernedextendedfamilymembers,andfromconcernedteachers
• thesecrecywhichthewinddevelopersencourage,bywayofconfidentiality
agreements,andthesubsequentfeelingsofbetrayaloftrustwhichothersinthecommunityhavewhentheyrealize,oftenatthelastminute,whatisgoingon.Thiserosionoftrustisparticularlydamagingtotheveryfabricofcloseinterrelationshipswhichcountryliferelieson,particularlyintimesofhardship,whicharebasedongoodrelationshipsandcooperationbetweenneighbours.IbelievefromwhatIhaveseenandheardthatthisalonehasaverydamagingeffectonindividualandruralcommunitymentalhealth,evenbeforetheturbinesarebuilt.
OCCUPATIONALHEALTHANDSAFETYCONCERNSIhaveanumberofconcernswithrespecttooccupationalhealthandsafetyissues.
1. Farmershaveworkplacesinthevicinityofwinddevelopments,andarethemselvesemployers,aswellasemployees.Somefarmershavesaidtomethattheyareveryconcernedaboutthehealtheffectsoftheturbinesontheirworkers,andareconcernedabouttheirabilitytoprovideasafeworkplace,andtheirliabilitieswithrespecttothisissue.Somehavesoughtadvicefromtherelevantgovernmentdepartments,butwithnoneforthcoming,asofficially“thereisnohealthproblem”.
2. Somefarmershavegivenmeinstanceswheretheirworkershavehadtoleave,becauseofhealthproblemstheydevelopedwhichincludedsymptomsofmotionsickness,headaches,painfulearpressure,andinabilitytocopewiththeaudiblenoiseoftheturbines.Oneworkerfromhisdescriptionmayhavebeenhavingepisodesofacutehypertensivecrises,andhastoldmehewillneverworkagainnearawinddevelopment,ashefeltsounwell.
3. Iamalsoconcernedaboutthehealthofworkersemployedbythewind
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developmentcompanies,onsite.Iamtoldbycurrentandexemployeesofdifferentwinddevelopmentsthattheyarenotadvisedofanyhealthissuesormonitoringrequired,asofficially“therearenohealthproblems”.Iamparticularlyconcernedabouttheneedtomonitorbloodpressuresofworkersonturbinedevelopments,aselevatedbloodpressuresaregenerallysymptomfree.
4. Thenewnationalworkhealthandsafetylawsaretobeenactedthisyear,and
willtakeeffectfrom1stJanuary,2012.Inthosenewlaws,thereisaspecificonusonindividualsconductingabusinesstoprovideasafeworkplace,andhealthisspecificallydescribedasincludingbothphysicalandpsychologicalhealth.Thiswillfurtherincreasethepressureonthosefarmersto“provideasafeworkplace”,whichitisclearlyimpossibleforthemtodoiftheyaresurroundedbywindturbines.
MECHANISMSOFCAUSATIONofIllnessresultingfromWindturbines,andrelatedregulatoryissuesTheexactmechanismsforcausationofalltheillhealthresultingfromturbinesarenotallclear,howeverImakethefollowingcomments1.AudibleNoiseWindTurbinescanbenoisy,evensomeelementsofthewindindustryhaveadmittedthis(egSloth,2010,summarypage).Thereisnodoubtthatsomepeopleareparticularlyaffectedbytheaudiblenoisefromturbines,whichisuniquelydisturbingorannoyingformanypeopleatmuchlowersoundpressurelevelsthanforothersourcesofnoise.Iamnotgoingtodiscusstheextensivemedicalevidencewhichexistsinthepublishedpeerreviewedmedicalliteratureabouttheadverseeffectsofaudiblenoiseonhealth,andonsleep,butagainreferreaderstoDrRobertMcMurtry’ssubmissiontotheSenateInquiryonthistopic.Inaddition,DrBobThorneandDrDanielShepherd’sworkonindividualnoisesensitivityishighlyrelevanthere(pleaserefertotheirrespectiveSenateSubmissions)–whatisdisturbingtooneindividualwhoisnoisesensitive,maynotdisturbanother.Thisisyetanotherreasontoensurethatturbinesaresitedwellawayfromhumanhabitation,toensurethatthosewhoarenoisesensitivearenotgoingtobeadverselyimpacted,withdirecthealthadverseconsequencesbecauseofchronicsleep
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deprivationfromaudiblenoise.Theissuesofincreasednighttimenoisefromturbinesissomethingwhichanumberofacousticianshavewrittenextensivelyabout,particularlyDrBobThorne,DrFritsVanDenBerg,andMrRickJames.WhatIhearfromaffectedresidentsisthattheirsleepandthereforetheirhealthisparticularlyaffectedbyaudiblenoiseonnightswherethereisridgetopwind,butthebackgroundnoisearoundtheirhomeisquiet.Onthesenights,theaudiblenoisecanmeanthatsomeaffectedresidentsgetverylittlesleep.Thisnoisehasbeendescribedtomefromresidentsofhousesupto8kmawayfromtheturbines,andIhavehearditmyselffromturbinesatadistanceof4km,onsuchanight,atWaubra.Itliterallycansoundlikealoudoverheadjetengine,whichdoesn’teverleave.Otherresidentsdescribethenoiseasbeinglikeawashingmachine,oratruckortrainconstantlymakinganoise,andnevergoinganywhere.IhaverecentlyvisitedanumberofhousesadjacenttotheCapitalWindDevelopmentinNSW,andhaveheardthisvariationinsoundformyself.Iamnotanacoustician,butacousticiansIworkwithtellmethatcurrentaudiblenoisemeasurementsarebasedonaverages,ratherthanactualpeaksofaudiblenoiseintensity.AsProfessorJohnHarrisonmadeclearattheSymposiuminOntario,“theeardoesnothear‘averages’,ithearsthepeaks(pleaseseehisconferencepaperonthewindvigilance.comwebsite).Iftheaudiblesound“peaks”arewhatiswakingpeopleup,thenconsiderationneedstobegiventochangingthecurrentguidelines,ensuringthatsuchpeaksaremeasured,andthenactedon,iftheadverseandserioushealthconsequencesofchronicallydisturbedsleeparetobeprevented.Inaddition,manypeopleIspoketodescribedhowtheirears/brainsseemedto‘tuneinto’thesoundofwindturbineaudiblenoise,sothatwhatwasnotannoyingforthefirstfiveminutesbecameintenselyannoyingordisturbingafterafewhoursordays,letalonemonths.MrErikSloth,inhisfrankpresentationtotheCleanEnergyCouncilinMay2010,referredtosomeinadequaciesofcurrentacousticmodelinginpredictingactualwindturbinenoise–certainlytheperspectiveofaffectedresidentsIhavespokenwithisthatthenoisetheyarelivingwithonaregularbasisisveryloud,andverydisturbing.
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Thereisamajorproblemwiththeprocess,ifthenoisepredictionsusedbythewinddevelopersintheirplanningapplicationsbearnorealitytothenoiseactuallygeneratedinthefieldpostconstruction,asishappeningcurrentlyatmultiplewinddevelopmentstomyknowledge,specificallyWaubra,Waterloo,andMtBryan.Itissimplynotgoodenoughforthedeveloperstoadmit,postconstruction,that“wedidn’trealizetheywouldbesonoisy”.Oneofthemoredamaginganddisempoweringwindcompanypracticesistorefusetoreleasepostconstructionaudiblenoisemonitoringdatawhenrequestedtodosobytheaffectedresidents,givingtheexcusethatitis“inconclusive”,orreleasingitinsuchaformthatitisimpossibleforthemtointerpret(egawadofsheetsofpaperwithnoisenumbers).AccordingtoaffectedresidentsIhavespokenwith,thishashappenedatMtBryan,Waubra,Toora,andCapitalwindfarms.
2. LowFrequencyNoise(LFN)andinfrasoundLowFrequencynoiseisgenerallydefinedassoundwaveswithafrequencylessthan200Hz.Infrasoundhasafrequencyoflessthan20Hz,whichisgenerallyimperceptibletothehumanear,butmaybeperceivedasavibration.ItisimportanttonotethatallthecurrentnoiseregulationsspecifydBAoraudiblenoiselevellimits,butthereappearstobelittleornoregulationspecificallygoverningtheacceptableor‘safe’soundpressurelevelsofinfrasound.DrAlecSalthasshownexperimentallyhowinfrasoundcanadverselyaffectthemechanismsoperatingthesensitiveinnerearfunctionatmuchlowersoundpressurelevelsthanareperceptibletohumanhearing.Thismeansthateventhoughyoucannot‘hear’theinfrasoundwaves,theyarestillimpactingonyourinnerearandbrain.(seeconferenceproceedingsonwindvigilance.com).Hisworkisleadingtheworldinthisarea,andhasbeenpeerreviewedandpublished.DrNinaPierponthasalsoreferredtothecurrentresearchliteraturerelatingtothebrainandthevestibularsysteminparticular,inbothherstudyandinherrecentpresentationandpaperfortheInternationalSymposium,(availableatwindvigilance.com)andsubmittedtotheSenatecommittee.Therearealsopublishedpeerreviewedscientificstudieswhichconfirmthattheeffectsofexposuretoinfrasoundarecumulative(Perrson&Waye,),canaffectcognition&memory(ibid),canaffectmood&workperformance(ibid),andcanresultinelevated
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bloodpressure,heartrate,andaffectmood(Qibai&Shi).Whilsttheseexperimentshavenotbeendonewithwindturbinespecificpulsatileinfrasound,theyarehighlysuggestivethatinfrasoundmayindeedbyacausativeagentinmanyofthesymptomsofwindturbinesyndrome.Thereisanurgentneedforfurtherresearchintothisspecificarea,becauseofthefindingbelow.MrRickJames(Acoustician)showedasoundspectogramduringhispresentationattheInternationalsymposiuminOntarioonOctober29th,2010,andstatedthathehadmeasuredthewindturbinespecificpulsatileinfrasoundusingaSoundQualityAnalysisInstrument,andfoundinfrasounduptoasoundpressurelevelof90dB,whichwasamuchhighersoundintensitythanpreviouslythoughtpossiblefrommodernupwindturbines(availableonwindvigilance.com,secondlastpageofhispresentation,furtherdetailsavailableonrequest).Thereareanimalstudieswhichclearlyshowthatinfrasoundatthissoundpressurelevelof90dBcancausephysiologicalchanges,inparticularstimulationofthebody’sfight/flightresponse,orsympatheticnervoussystem.Thereisalsoevidenceoftissuedamagewithlongtermhighintensityinfrasoundexposure.TherearemultiplerelevantpaperswhicharecitedinaReviewofthetoxicologyofinfrasound,(2001)bytheNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciences.Anumberofthepatternsofsymptomswhichaffectedresidentshavedescribedwouldcertainlyfitwiththeexperimentalevidenceofstimulationofthesympatheticnervoussystembyinfrasound;particularlythewakingupinthemiddleofthenightpanicked,theanxietysymptoms,theelevatedbloodpressure,thetachycardia,theepisodesofacutehypertensivecrises,TakoTsuboinducedheartattacks,tonameafew.ThereiscertainlyanurgentneedforfurtherspecificresearchintotheeffectsofacuteandchronicinfrasoundandLFNexposureonhumansandanimals,atthemeasuredlevelsofwindturbinespecificpulsatileinfrasoundinthefieldbeingemittedbytheturbines.ProfessorColinHansen,AcousticsProfessorfromAdelaideUniversity,hasexpressedaninterestinbeinginvolvedinsuchstudies,inconjunctionwithaPhysiologistorClinician.Thisbasicinfrasoundmeasurementinthefieldandintheaffectedpeople’shomeshasnoteverbeendone,andurgentlyneedstobe.BothDrBobThorneandProfessorColinHansenarekeentodothis.
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Wedon’tknowwhata‘safe’levelofinfrasoundemissionfromaturbineis,particularlywithcumulativechronicexposure,andparticularlywithexposureofparticularlyvulnerablepopulations,especiallytheelderly,children,andunbornbabies.SomecliniciansworkinginthisareaarenowconcernedthattheillnesscalledVibro‐Acousticdisease,whichresultsfromchroniclongtermhighintensityinfrasoundexposure,(particularlyintheaviation/defenceindustries)mayberelevantinthiscontextofchronicexposuretowindturbineinfrasound,giventherecenthighintensitylevelsofpulsatilewindturbinespecificinfrasound,recordedbyMrRickJames,inOntario,(previouslymentioned).Givenwhatwedoknowalreadyaboutinfrasoundexposure,itwouldseemimperativetoimmediatelyadopttheprecautionaryapproach,andnotsiteturbineswithindistanceswherepeoplearecurrentlyexperiencingsymptoms(10km),untilsuchdetailedinfrasoundstudiesaredone.DrBobThorne,DrDanielShepherdandtheircolleaguesfromMasseyUniversityhavesubmittedastudyproposalwhichwouldsignificantlyincreasecurrentknowledgeinthisarea,whichisreadytostartimmediately,asarethesubjectsforthestudy.Allthatisrequiredisthefunding.DrThornehastoldmethatusefulresultscouldbeavailablebysixmonthsfromcommencementofthestudy.OthermechanismsItmaywellbethatothermechanismsareeventuallyidentifiedascausativeagentsforsomeofthesymptomswhicharebeingexperiencedbyaffectedresidents,buttheseremainunidentifiedatthistime.Thereiscertainlyconcernonthepartofsomeresidentsthatelectromagneticradiationmaybeplayingapart.Atpresentthereislittleevidencetosupportthis,howeverapreliminarystepwouldbetoactuallymeasuretheelectricandmagneticfieldsinthoselocationswherepeopleareactuallyexperiencingsymptomsorotherproblemssuggestiveofelectromagneticinterference,suchasflourolightslightingupbythemselves,ashasbeenreportedbysomeresidents.
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THENOCEBOARGUMENTThereisnoexperimentalorstudydatawhichsupportthewindindustryassertionthatthesesymptomsareduetothe“nocebo”effect.Inmyexperience,manyoftheaffectedresidentscurrentlylivingadjacenttoturbinedevelopmentsactuallysupportedtheturbinescomingintotheircommunity,andsomeworkedontheturbineconstruction.Inmyjudgement,assertionsofthenoceboeffectinthesecircumstancesisevidenceofacultureofvictimblamingwhichispervasivewithintheindustry,ratherthanavalidscientifichypothesis.SOMEAREASREQUIRINGFURTHERINDEPENDENTRESEARCH
1. theduration,frequencyandintensitiesofpulsatileinfrasoundandlowfrequencynoisecurrentlybeingemittedfromturbinedevelopments,underdifferentweather&windconditions,overweekstomonths,andtheconcurrentmeasurementwithsymptomsbeingexperiencedbyaffectedresidentsintheirhomes(DrBobThorneetal'sproposedresearch)
2. thesleeppatternsofaffectedresidents,documentedbyinsitusleepstudies,correlatedwithturbineoperation,andconcurrentmeasurementofaudiblesoundandinfrasound
3. theeffectonbloodpressureofsoundandinfrasoundfromturbines,as
measuredconcurrentlybysoundandinfrasoundmeasurementdevicesandcontinuousambulatorybloodpressuremonitoring
4. theeffectoflongtermchronicinfrasoundexposureonadults(usingarangeof
healthindices),andinparticularinvestigationofanyirreversiblelongtermsequelae(possiblepermanentmemorydeficits,hyperacusis(noisesensitivity)andpermanenttinnitushavebeendescribedinresidentswhohaverelocatedawayfromturbinessometimeago)
5. theeffectofchronicinfrasoundexposure,andexposuretowindturbineson
children&unbornbabies,(particularlytheirgrowth,development,cognitive
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development,&learning)
6. ascertaintherangeandseverityofpsychiatricillnessbeingobservedinpopulationsexposedtoturbines,comparedwithanon‐exposedgroup,withfollowupworktodeterminethecausativeagent(s)andappropriateandeffectivetherapeuticinterventions
OTHERIMPORTANTHEALTH/PLANNINGISSUES‐FIREFinally,particularlyinsoutheasternAustralia,thereistheissueofincreasedfireriskwhichoperatingwindturbinespose.
1. Turbinescananddocatchfire(atleastthreeinSouthAustraliainthelastfewyears‐CathedralRocks,LakeBonneyandStarfishHill),andhavesignificantquantitiesofhighlyflammableoilintheirgearbox.
2. Therearesignificantimpedimentstofightingwindturbinefires‐boththefire
authoritiesandtheturbinedevelopersadmitthereislittlethatcanbedoneintheeventofafireexceptjustwatchitburn,andtryandputoutanyspotfires.
3. CFSstaffinSouthAustraliaadvisemetheyhavebeentoldtheycannotapproach
aburningturbinecloserthan300metres,andtheCountryHeadofSafeworkSAhasconfirmedthattherearefurtherrestrictionsiftheturbinebladesareonfireandspinning,ashappenedrecentlyatStarfishHill,requiringtheCFStomovebacktoatleastonekilometrefromtheburning,spinningturbineblades.Preliminarydiscussionswithpeopleinterstatehaverevealedthesameissuesandrestrictions.
4. Finally,therearerestrictionsontheuseofaerialfirefightingapparatusinclose
proximitytoturbines,becauseoftheturbulencetheturbinesgenerate.Ihavebeenadvisedthatthisapplieswhethertheturbinesareoperatingornot.
Thereiscurrentlynorestrictionontheoperationofturbinesondaysofincreasedfiredanger(high,extreme,andcatastrophic).Inmyopinion,thisisamajorpublichealthdisaster,justwaitingtohappen.RESTRICTIONSTOOPERATIONOFTURBINESONTHESEDAYSSHOULDBE
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IMMEDIATELYIMPLEMENTED.OTHERRELEVANTISSUES:Whyhasthisresearchnotyetbeendone,anywhereintheworld?IbelievetheissueoftheadversehealtheffectsofwindturbineshasnotyetbeenproperlyexaminedbymyMedicalcolleagueswiththeexceptionofthepeoplealreadymentioned,becausetheyhavebeenunawarethattherewasaproblem.Ibelievetherehasbeenanorganizedeffortonthepartofthewindindustrytokeepthisissueofadversehealtheffectsoutofthepublicarena,bythecombineduseof:
1. deliberate‘spin’andmisinformation,particularlyonthepartofthewindindustrybodiese.g.theCleanEnergyCouncilinAustralia(forexamplecommentssuchas“after20yearsand100,000turbinestherehavebeennoproblems”despitemembersofthisindustrybeingpartyto‘gag’agreements
2. ‘shootingthemessenger’intheformofattemptingtointimidateordiscredittheclinicianswhohaveidentifiedproblems.Ihaveexperiencedboth,onmultipleoccasions,fromwindindustryandgovernmentrepresentatives
3. bytheuseofconfidentialityagreementswithsomeoftheaffectedresidents,
whohavesignedtheseagreementswhichpreventthemfromspeakingpubliclyabouttheirhealthproblems.
IhavedirectknowledgeoftheseconfidentialityagreementsoccurringinmultiplesiteswithdifferentdevelopersinAustralia,andinCanada,andhavebeenadvisedbymycolleaguesinternationallyofthiswidespreadandlongstandingindustrypracticeelsewhere.FAILURESOFPROCESSANDREGULATIONandtheconsequenteffectsonmentalhealthofaffectedresidentsInmyexperienceslisteningtothestoriesofaffectedresidentsacrosssoutheasternAustralia,theoverwhelmingimpressionIhaveisoneofcollectiveangeranddeep
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despairatbeingliedto,ignored,orarrogantlydismissed,bybothwinddevelopers,theirconsultants,theirlawyers,andpoliticiansandbureaucrats,particularlythoseinhealth,environmentandplanningdepartmentsatalllayersofgovernment(Federal,StateandLocal).Thereareafewnotableexceptions,whereindividualshavetakenaffectedresidentsseriously,buttheyareveryfewindeed.Thedirecthealthconsequenceofthisfailurehasbeenanescalationofthesignificantmentalhealthproblemswhichhavepreviouslybeendescribed.Theseareoccurringinpeoplealreadylivingadjacenttotheturbines,buttheyarealsooccurringinsignificantnumbersinthosepopulationswhoareconfrontedwithaproposeddevelopmentintheir“backyard”.ManypeopleIhavespokentoinsuchsituationsdescribeitasbeing“akintoawar”,consumingeverywakingmoment,nottomentionconsiderablefinancialresources,ifavailable.TheyalsodescribefeelingutterlyabandonedbytheauthoritiessuchasthehealthdepartmentandtheEPA,whoaremeanttobetheretoprotectthehealthandwellbeingofallindividuals,butparticularlythosevulnerableindividualssuchastheelderly,andthechildren.Forexample,IamtoldbyalltheaffectedresidentsIhavespokenwiththattheyhaveneverbeencontactedbyanystateorfederalhealthbureaucrat,apartfromreceivingletterstellingthem“thereisnoevidence”thattheycouldbesufferingfromthehealthproblemstheydescribe.Somehavealsobeentoldthisbytheirdoctors.Iunderstandhowthissituationhasarisen,giventhelackofresearch,withtheexceptionofthestudiespreviouslymentioned,butsuchdisbeliefhasonlyperpetuatedthetraumaoftheirexperiences.Ihavemetwithsuchhealthbureaucrats,orhavesometimesreceivedcorrespondencefromthem.NoneofthehealthofficialsIhavemetwithtodatehadactuallyreadthestudiesIhavereferredto,particularlyDrNinaPierpont’sstudy.Ihavebeentoldbythemtheywill“monitordevelopments”and“itisonlyafewpeopleanyway”.Anotherresponsehasbeenthatitis“forthegreatergood”ofthecommunity–thishasalsobeenenshrinedinsomeAustraliancourtjudgements,andplanningdecisions.
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Consequentlyaffectedruralresidentsarefeelingutterlyabandoned,desperate,andveryangry,aswellasfeelingveryunwell,mentallyandphysically.Manyhavebeensignificantlyfinanciallyimpoverishedbytheirexperiences.OnecoupleIknowofareeffectivelyhomeless,astheybecomesosickwithinminutestohoursofreturninghome,iftheturbinesareturning.Theywouldbehomelessifitwasn’tforthekindnessoffriendsandrelations.IsincerelyhopethatthedeliberationsofthisSenateCommitteewillresultintheirvoicesbeingheard,andsignificantandurgentactionbeingtaken.IbelieveIndependentscientificallyconductedresearchistheONLYwaytoprogressthisissue,withthecompetingandconflictinginterestsofallthepartiesinvolved.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
1. ThereisanurgentneedforfurtherINDEPENDENTmedical,acousticandscientificresearch,lookingspecificallyatthepopulationsaffectedbythecurrentlyconstructedandoperatingwinddevelopmentsinAustralia
2. Animmediatetemporaryhaltinconstructionofwindturbinescloserthan
10kmtohumanhabitationuntiladequateresearchiscompleted,inordertodeterminewhatisasafesetbackofturbinesfromhomesandworkplaces
3. Currentplanningandnoiseguidelineswillneedtobeupdatedonthebasisof
thisnewknowledge
4. Thereshouldbeanimmediatebanontheoperationofwindturbinesondaysofhigh,extremeandcatastrophicfiredanger,becauseofthedifficultiesinfightingsuchfires,andtherisktolivesshouldsuchafireoccur
5. Measurementofwindturbinespecificinfrasoundandlowfrequencysound
needstobeincludedinpostconstructionnoiseassessments,andALLtheseassessmentsMUSTbeperformedbyexperiencedAcousticianswhoareCOMPLETELYINDEPENDENTofthewinddevelopers
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OBJECTIVES
1. Gather,investigateandreviewcomplaintsofhealthproblemsthathavebeenperceivedbythecomplainantsasbeingassociatedwithlivingorworkingclosetowindturbinesorsuchotherindustrialsourcesthatmaybeconsideredasrelevant.
2. Continuetogatheradditionalinformationfromexistingandnewwindprojectsorothersourcesasitbecomesavailable.
3. Buildtheexistingandnewdataintoahighqualitydatabasesuitableasastartpointforproperlyconstructedstudiesandreviewbyqualifiedothers.
4. Usethedatatoengageinco‐operativestudieswithindependentresearchersbothinAustraliaandinternationally.
5. Onthebasisofdatagatheredpluslocal,overseasandco‐operativestudies,providerelevantandindependentadvicetocommunities,thepublicatlargeandlocal,stateandfederalgovernmentsandtothewindturbineindustryandotherrelevantorganisations.
6. Promoteresearchintotheeffectsandcausesofillnessesthatmaybeassociatedwithlivingorworkingclosetowindturbinesandotherrelevantsources.
7. Maketheresultsofsuchresearchwidelyavailable,tomembersofthepublic,healthprofessionals,andotherinterestedparties.
8. Facilitatetheestablishmentofindividualnetworksofrelevantspecialitiesofmedicalpractitionersandotherhealthpractitionerstoenabletherapidsharingofinformationandexpertiseinthediagnosis,managementandtreatmentofpatientswithsymptomsofwindturbinesyndrome
9. Providesuchadviceandassistanceascanbegiventoindividualsandcommunitieswhobelievethattheirhealthisormaybeimpactedbyadjacentwindturbinesorothersources.
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10. Assemblethenecessaryresourcestocarryouttheobjectives.
11. RaisesuchfundsasmaybepossibletoassistintheworkoftheFoundation.
12. Atalltimestoestablishandmaintaincompleteindependencefromgovernment,industryandadvocacygroupsfororagainstwindturbines.
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REFERENCES(availableonrequest)Harry,DrAmandaMBChBPGDipENT“WindTurbines,NoiseandHealth”February,2007Iser,DrDavidMBBS,DRANZCOG,FRACGPpersonalcommunicationNationalHealthandMedicalResearchCouncil,“WindTurbinesandHealth,ARapidReviewoftheEvidence”,July2010Qibai&Shi,"Aninvestigationonthephysiologicalandpsychologicaleffectsofinfrasoundonpersons"pp303‐310,in2007ColinHansenEditorTheEffectsofLow‐FrequencyNoiseandVibrationonPeople(MultisciencePress)previouslypublishedintheJournalofLowFrequencyNoiseVibrationandActiveControlfromthebeginningoftheyear2000‐2005PerrsonWaye,Ketal"EffectsonPerformance&WorkQualityduetoLowFrequencyVentilationNoise"(1997)JournalofSound&Vibration205(4)pp467‐474NIEHS(AmericanNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealth)BriefReviewofToxicologicalLiteratureNovember2001Sloth,Erik“Parametersinfluencingwindturbinenoise”PresentationtotheCleanEnergyCouncilConference,May2010inSydney
