By Sue Restan and Rita Campbell, The Press and Journal – UK – published: Sept 4, 2013

FRESH fears have been raised about children’s safety after a wind turbine similar to ones installed at schools in the Highlands started to break up after being hit by a powerful gust.

Part of one of the structure’s blades was thrown about 60 yards as it disintegrated.

Worried parents believe pupils could be seriously injured or even killed if the Caithness incident was repeated at one of the 13 primaries and secondaries across the region which have their own turbines.

Original Article Here: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/3379753/

 

A very good article exposing the facts around Wind Power’s economic failure in addition to outlining how it isn’t green!

Saturday, August 31, 2013 Brett Boese, bboese@postbulletin.com

August 9, 2013 -Waubra Foundation

Infrasound from wind turbines: An overlooked health hazard

Läkartidningen, vol. 110 (2013), pp. 1388–89.

Håkan Enbom, MD, PhD, Ear/Nose/Throat specialist, otoneurology and specialist in dizziness disorders, and

Inga Malcus Enbom, Ear/Nose/Throat specialist and specialist in allergy and hypersensitivity reactions.

Both authors are employed at the City Health ENT, Angelholm.

 

The following translation of the Swedish original was performed by google translate, with thanks to http://www.windturbinesyndrome.com

Abstract:

 

Infrasound from wind turbines affects the inner ear and is a potential health risk for people with migraine or other type of central nervous system. The authors maintain that the legal framework for the creation of new wind turbines should be revised, taking into account this fact.

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Previous scientific studies on wind turbines and infrasound have been contradictory. They have therefore not been sufficiently credible when planning a framework for the establishment of wind turbines. In recent years, however, a new insight has emerged on the central nervous system, providing a better understanding of migraine, fibromyalgia and other chronic pain syndromes [1, 2] and some cases of tinnitus and dizziness. This understanding is also important for understanding how infrasound from wind turbines can affect health. Several studies have found that living near wind turbines often create severe sleep disturbance and depression. They have also found an increased incidence of dizziness, tinnitus, hyperacusis, headache, increased activation of the autonomic nervous system, etc. [3, 4].

 

In addition to the audible sound, which can provide noise damage and be generally disruptive, mentally, spinning wind turbines also produce a vibrant infrasound that affects the inner ear and the central nervous system without damaging the hearing.

 

Infrasound is sound with frequencies below 20 Hz, corresponding to wavelengths of 17 meters and above, that is not seen with normal hearing. This sound, if it is not mitigated substantially, propagates over very long distances. It arises from several sources, such as pulsating flows from rörmynningar [?], large eddies (such as wind turbines and large jet engines) and large vibrating surfaces. In scientific studies, infrasound from wind turbines has been measured at levels so low that the sound is not perceived by humans. It has also been determined that infrasound from wind turbines does not give rise to noise damage in the traditional sense [5].

 

In general, what has not been taken into account in many studies, is that infrasound from wind turbines has a rhythmic pulsing sound, and the pulsating sound pressure affects the inner ear, although no sound is perceived by the individual. The pressure waves propagate into the inner ear fluid-filled cavities, and this “massage effect” affects the sensory cells in the inner ear hearing and organs of balance [6]. Many studies fail to take into account the fact that some people are more sensitive than others to the sensory impact. Some are significantly affected by the pulsating sound pressure while others are not affected by it in a significant way.

 

The rhythmic, pumping infrasound from wind turbines stimulates inner ear sensory functions [7, 8]. Such sensory stimulation can occur in people with sensory hypersensitivity … causing symptoms such as unsteadiness, dizziness, headache, difficulty concentrating, visual disturbances, and more [9]. The problems arise even if the noise level is relatively low, since infrasound constantly affects … the pressure in the inner ear via the vestibular organs. The pulsing sound pressure from wind turbines indirectly activates the autonomic nervous system, causing increased secretion of adrenaline with consequent stress effects, risk of panic disorder, high blood pressure and heart attacks for people with increased sensory sensitivity.

 

Migraine is caused by a genetic central sensory hypersensitivity in people at risk for central nervous system disorder. Migraine prevalence is about 30 percent in the general population [10, 11]. In addition there are other causes of central processing disorder, which means that more than 30 percent of residents in the vicinity of wind turbines could be, to greater or lesser extent, affected by wind-related “annoyance.” Risk groups include people with migraine disorder or a family history of migraines, people over 50 years of age, people with fibromyalgia and those with a tendency to anxiety and depression [12]. Children and adults with ADHD and autism are at risk and could have their symptoms worsened.

 

The issue is not noise damage in the traditional sense, but the effect of a constant pulsating sound pressure that constantly changes the pressure in the inner ear and excites sensory organs there. One can liken it to pulsating or flickering lights—many people are not bothered noticeably, while people with sensory hypersensitivity may experience discomfort. Flickering light can even trigger epilepsy. Likewise,constantly pulsating, non-audible infrasound from wind turbines triggers major problems in people with central sensory hypersensitivity. These problems can become chronic, debilitating and lead to anxiety and depression and increase the risk of heart attack.

 

The current regulatory framework for wind turbines has not taken into account the potential risk to people with central sensory hypersensitivity. Wind turbines erected are being erected too close to homes. The current regulatory framework should be revised with an increased safety distance from homes to prevent or reduce the risk of wind-related morbidity.

 

(Potential ties or conflicts of interest: None declared.)

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References

1. Woolf CJ. Central sensitization: Implications for the diagnosis and treatment of pain. Pain. 2011: 152 (3 Suppl): S2-15.

2. Aguggia M, Saracco MG, Cavallini M, et al. Sensitization and pain. Neurol Sci. 2013, 34 Suppl 1: S37-40.

3. Farboud A, Crunk Horn R, Trinidade A. ‘Wind Turbine Syndrome’: fact or fiction? J Laryngol Otol. In 2013, 127 (3) :222–6.

4. Shepherd D, McBride D, D Welch, et al. Evaluating the impact of wind turbine noise on health-related quality of life. Noise Health. 2011: 13 (54) :333–9.

5. Work Environment Authority. Noise and bullerbekämp1ning. Stockholm: Swedish Work Environment Authority; 2002.

6. Salt AN, Hullar TE. Responses of the ear to low frequency sounds, infrasound and wind turbines. Hear Res. 2010: 268 (1–2) :12–21.

7. Todd NP, Rosengren SM, Colebatch JG. Tuning and sensitivity of the human vestibular system to low-frequency vibration. Neurosci Lett. 2008: 444 (1) :36–41.

8. Enbom, H. Vestibular and somatosensory contribution to postural control [dissertation] Lund: Lund University; 1990.

9. Lovati C, Mariotti C Giani L, et al. Central sensitization in photophobic and non-photophobic migraineurs: possible role of retinoblastoma nuclear way in the central sensitization process. Neurol Sci. 2013, 34 (Suppl) :133-fifth

10. Ashina S, Bendtsen L, Ashina M. Pathophysiology of migraine and tension-type headache. Tech Reg Anesth Pain Manag. 2012 (16) :14–8.

11. Aurora SK, Wilkinson F. The brain is hyperexcitable in migraine. Cephalalgia. 2007: 27:1442–53.

12. Desmeules YES, Cedraschi C, Rapiti E, et al. Neurophysiologic evidence for a central sensitization in patient with fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum. 2003, 48:1420–9.

Original Article can be found here: http://waubrafoundation.org.au/2013/swedish-doctors-call-infrasound-from-wind-turbines-an-overlooked-health-hazard/

August 30, 2013 – Miriam Raftery – East County Magazine

(Ocotillo) — Thursday’s storm brought an unwanted surprise to residents of Ocotillo, where floodwaters swept through the desert town carrying a white,  foamy sludge. You can see a video of the sludge flood on our website at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqtr8mKDbEo&feature=youtu.be

East County Magazine photographer Jim Pelley lives in Ocotillo.  He and other residents say that they have never seen the white foamy sludge before the Ocotillo Wind Energy facility was built.

“What is it?” he asked.  “What effect will it have on our sole source aquifer?” The underground aquifer provides the town’s only source of drinking water.  Pelley also wants to know if the contaminated water will be harmful to animals.  “It has been so dry out here, I’m sure all of the wildlife is very thirsty and will be drinking this water.”

Ocotillo is located in Imperial County, just over the San Diego County line.  But the impacts of a wind project there are of concern here in East County, with a similar wind project proposed in McCain Valley on federal public lands.

This isn’t the first time this has happened. In July of 2012, just over a year ago during the project’s construction, a flash flood washed a similar-looking white foam through the town. It coated streets and yards where children play.  See our prior story on this here:  http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/10510

Officials initially balked at disclosing what the substance was. But after East County Magazine advised that we would pay for testing if officials didn’t turn over this information, an Imperial County official finally informed us that the substance was a chemical used for dust suppression by the wind project developer.

That substance is flammable when it dries out. That fact struck fear in the hearts of residents during a wildfire that engulfed mountains behind Ocotillo in July of last year, days after the July 2012 flood, with white, flammable chemical residue still on the ground dangerously close to homes.

No cleanup was ever ordered.

Could Thursday’s flood of white foam be a dust suppression chemical reappearing in waterways, one year later?  Or is it something else?

One troubling possibility is that the substance found this week could be run-off of herbicides sprayed shortly before the storm.  The  herbicide was approved by the Bureau of Land Management to suppress non-native mustard weeds brought in by vehicles at Pattern Energy’s wind project. Spraying of the neurotoxic herbicide was done over the objections of Ocotillo residents.  Is that herbicide now polluting public waterways?

Still another possibility is that two massive dust storms that struck Ocotillo last week may have blown in other contaminants from Arizona, where the storms originated, or from contaminated areas east of Ocotillo, such as the highly polluted Salton Sea.

An East County Magazine investigation has found an apparent link between the resurgence of Dust Bowl-era scale dust storms and construction of industrial-scale wind projects and desert solar projects across the Southwest. Scraping bare the desert soil on thousands, even millions of acres collectively for these projects destroys topsoil, just as industrial-scale agriculture destroyed topsoil in the 1930s, causing the dust storms that turned the Midwest into a Dust Bowl that forced millions of people to move away from their homes. Today’s Dust Storms also pose a new hazard, releasing deadly Valley Fever spores trapped beneath desert soils. Valley Fever has risen to epidemic proportions in Arizona and California, the Centers for Disease Control reports.

Residents near wind farms face a no-win situation, confronted with dust as well dust storms harmful to human health as well as pollution from chemicals used by wind energy developers to control the dust.

Pelley gathered up a gallon of the mysterious white sludge, which resembles snow blanketing the desert  after  Thursday’s flood.  He turned it over to an environmental official in Imperial County, who said he will send it out for testing and analysis.

Wind energy has been touted as “green” and renewable. But the Ocotillo wind project has failed even to produce the wind energy levels that it promised the federal government to win approval.

Beleaguered residents in Ocotillo contend that the only thing “green” about this wind project is the taxpayers’ money pocketed by the developer in the form of wind energy subsidies.

For residents across the nation who live close to places where wind projects or desert solar projects are proposed, as well as for all who use public lands or care about wildlife in these formerly protected areas, this week’s dust storms and chemical flooding raise serious questions about the hidden costs of pollution related to these so-called “green” energy projects.

Read original  Article here: http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/13887