New community advice on wind farms, sound and health

The Victorian Department of Health has released some fact sheets on wind farms, sound and health. The fact sheets are designed to clear up confusion about the issue and make it clear that wind farms produce less sound than other things such as an office or a car.

Some groups have claimed that very low-frequency noise, known as ‘infrasound’, from wind turbines can affect health - even when you can’t actually hear it. There has been no solid evidence that this is the case, but the argument continues to be made.

As with a recent study by the South Australian Environmental Protection Authority, the fact sheets state that wind farms do not produce enough infrasound to affect health. Humans are exposed to higher levels of infrasound from our heartbeat and breathing every day than what we experience when we are around wind farms. Other common sources of infrasound include the ocean, waterfalls and air conditioners.

You can download the fact sheets at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/environment/windfarms.htm.