Important information from
Mauri Johansson, MD (Specialist in Community & Occupational Health. Master in Humanities and Health studies, MHH) - Prevention & Health Promotion (Denmark)
EPAW Spokesman for Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) plus Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia
Environment Editor, Sydney
German doctors want more research into the health effects of wind turbines. Source: AP
The “parliament” of Germany’s medical profession has called on its leaders to support a halt to further wind farm developments near housing until more research has been undertaken into the possible health impacts of low-frequency noise from wind turbines.
The issue was debated at the German Medical Assembly in Frankfurt on Friday and transferred to the executive board of the German Medical Association.
Association policy adviser Adrian Alexander Jakel confirmed a motion calling for research had been forwarded to the board “for further action”.
Germany is considered a world leader in adopting renewable energy and the minutes of the Medical Assembly meeting said that, with the phase-out of nuclear power, more wind energy would be used in future. But it said the entire life cycle of renewable technologies, from the initial raw material supply to disposal and the planning and risk considerations, should be considered in advance.
The Medical Assembly motion said this required “scientifically sound findings of potential health effects, and a deliberate balance between benefit and validity to be able to make conscious weightings between the benefits and of the disadvantages and risks”.
“In particular regarding emissions in the low frequency and infrasound range there are no reliable independent studies that investigate field measurement methodology suitable for this sound field below the threshold of hearing,” they said.
The assembly called for the federal government to close the gaps in knowledge about the health effects of infrasound and low-frequency sound from wind turbines through scientific research.
It said research should clarify open questions concerning measurement methods and, where appropriate, adjust regulations to “allow the expansion and the operation of wind turbines wisely, carefully, with integrated expertise, sustainability and overall societal responsibility”.
It said the health effects of infrasound (below 20 Hz) and low-frequency sound (below 100 Hz) in relation to emissions from wind turbines were “still open questions’’, as were “the effects of noise below the hearing threshold or lower frequencies with increasing exposure duration”. The assembly said the erection of more turbines close to settlements should be stopped until there was reliable data to exclude a safety hazard.”
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118th German Medical Assembly, Frankfurt, 12.05 -15/05/2015
Activity report of the German Medical Association
Stepping up research into possible health effects in operation and expansion of wind turbines
Executive Transfer
The motion of Dr. Bernd Lücke (printed matter VI- 106) will be transferred for further consideration to the Executive Board of the German Medical Association.
The wind energy as a renewable form of energy will be used more in future. There is now a societal consensus after the decision in summer 2011 about nuclear phase-out. The abandonment of nuclear energy shows that problematic aspects of utilization have been moved in the future. To date, the issue of final disposal of the fuel rods is not really solved.
With regard to renewable forms of energy the entire life cycle of these technologies from the initial raw material supply to disposal in the planning and risk considerations should be incorporated in advance. This requires scientifically sound findings of potential health effects, and a deliberate balance between benefit and validity to be able to make conscious weightings between the benefits and of the disadvantages and risks.
In particular regarding emissions in the low frequency and infrasound range there are no reliable independent studies that investigate field measurement methodology suitable for this sound field below the threshold of hearing.
Thus, a wholesomeness of noise pollution at present has not been established.
The 118th German Medical Assembly in 2015 therefore calls for the federal government to close the gaps in knowledge about the health effects of infrasound and low frequency sound from wind turbines (WEA = Windenergianlagen = wt’s, MJ) through scientific research and to clarify open questions in the field of measurement methods and, where appropriate, adjust regulations to allow the expansion and the operation of wind turbines wisely, carefully, with integrated expertise, sustainability and overall societal responsibility.
Justifications:
Particularly the health effects of infrasound (<20 Hz) and low-frequency sound (<100 Hz) are in relation to emissions and immissions from wind turbines still open questions. So are the effects of noise below the hearing threshold or lower frequencies with increasing exposure duration. Furthermore, a need for adjustment in measuring methods and regulations should be checked for. As on the portability of noise radiation sources and propagation models from smaller wind turbines to large turbines as well as binding rules for measurement and assessment of low frequencies (0.1 to 20 Hz).
Core objectives:
● systematic, transparent, open-ended, empirical exploration of low frequency range that are able to penetrate the human organism
● networking with research groups abroad that have long been exploring these problems
● Continuous publication of the results and the survey methodology
● Stop the erection of more wind turbines close to settlements, until there is sufficiently reliable data, which exclude a hazard safely.
● To be considered are also the distance problems, the noise effects and the shadow flicker in addition to the turbine height as well as the wind turbine positions relative to the settlement, depending on the topographical conditions, the main wind directions and sun rays. If there for example is a wind turbine park on the wind side and the sun in front of a settlement, so sound propagation and shadows for the settlement will be more annoying than if the wind farm is behind this settlement.
● A need of reform of the technical guidance on Noise (German TA-Lärm), which protects only insufficiently, cannot continue to be used as a protective provision.
●The resulting sound research initiated plays at all levels of sound exposure a health protective role, not only in wind turbines.
● Also important is the study of structure-borne sound (= low-frequency vibrations in solids from 100 Hz to 0.1 Hz), which emanate, equally dangerous, from the modern wind turbines.
● Structure-borne noise also arises already when the rotors of wind turbines are not yet running, but due to the bending/shaking vibrations of the extremely high wind turbine towers. It is transferred over the foundations in the ground environment. Depending on the topological and geomorphic situation (soil layers) at the location of such facilities, the structure-borne sound can spread readily up to 10 km and be registered as immission inside exposed houses. Here only to view the infrasound (the airborne one) only investigate just it, is thus not sufficient to bring explainable and useful findings.
● Therefore, it would be within the scope of measurements to assess the future health risks, always, in addition to the external measurements to carry out internal measurements (instead of the usual practice in acoustics to use calculations).
● The interactions of structure-borne noise and air infrasound can lower the detection threshold of affected people significantly. Health problems of these individuals may therefore occur even at very low infra energy/vibration levels.
Translation MJ+Google, 19.5.2015
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Jean -Louis Butré |
Sarah Laurie WAUBRA FOUNDATION |
Sherri Lange |
April 23 2015
Dear decision-makers, politicians, Members of the EU Parliament, EU-Commission and other responsible public officials,
1) 29th April, 2015 is the 20th anniversary of International Noise Awareness Day, so we would like to warn you about the dangers of wind turbine infrasound and low frequency noise (ILFN) which have been largely and intentionally ignored by the global wind industry, politicians and even health authorities. Worldwide the wind industry has been trying to force their wind turbines (WT) as close to people’s homes as possible, for the sake of profit but at the expense of the health of the local residents, by deliberately ignoring the known sleep disturbance and serious health problems caused directly by impulsive wind turbine ILFN. Government authorities have been complicit in ignoring the existing scientific evidence, and the harm.
2) We therefore request you do your own due diligence on this issue, and investigate for yourself. There is an abundance of acoustic, scientific and clinical information independent of wind industry influence at websites such as epaw.org; na-paw.org; waubrafoundation.org.au and scientific evidence found there, and books as Wind Turbine Syndrome by a medical doctor Dr. Nina Pierpont, MD PhD, 2009 (see also: windturbinesyndrome.com) and The Wind Farm Scam by a Reader in Ecology at the University of Wales Dr. John Etherington, 2009).
3) The facts are that wind turbine noise: audible (low frequency noise LFN – under 200 Hz) and inaudible, but sensed very much (infrasound– under 20 Hz) results in serious adverse health effects, and is extremely dangerous to human health. Direct causation of symptoms and sensations from wind turbine generated impulsive infrasound and low frequency noise was established by US scientist Dr Neil Kelley in the 1980’s. More recently Steven Cooper’s work in Australia at Cape Bridgewater for wind developer Pacific Hydro has confirmed many aspects of Kelley’s research thirty years earlier.
4) The lifetime span of wind-turbines is from 20 up to 25 years and there are another 25 years to be expected with new turbines at the same place, therefore there is no escape from them for people in their lifetime. People are mostly exposed to pulsating infrasound. These pulses arise as the wind turbine blades pass the pillar.
5) Therefore we firmly demand that you, as one of the decision-makers:
5.1. Start considering the scientific evidence on the dangers of wind turbine noise, which go back as far as 30 years (NASA study, others and a historical overview on the wind turbine noise). These studies have shown that especially infrasound penetrates through closed windows and walls, and even resonates and amplifies within rooms to cause even stronger effects (cdn.knightlab.com ),
5.2. Stop ignoring so many people all over the world crying for help and even leaving their homes due to the wind turbine noise (for example: epaw.org; na-paw.org),
5.3. Recognize that wind farms are one of the worst night time noise pollutants of today and that prolonged sleep deprivation is also considered to be a method of torture by the ‘’The UN Committee against Torture (CAT),
5.4. Recognize what the wind industry does not want the general public and responsible public officials to learn, that there is much evidence on infra- and LFN wind turbine noise including the facts that:
- More megawatts produced by more powerful wind turbines means a greater proportion of infrasound and low frequency noise is generated,
- Infrasound is known to travel very, very long distances,
- Noise-pollution by wind power developments with many wind turbines is much, much stronger than one with only wind turbine, although serious health damage can occur from just one wind turbine if it is too close to homes and workplaces,
- Infrasound from wind turbines on hills will travel greater distances,
- Stronger winds, higher air moisture, lower background noise in rural areas, temperature inversion, etc., can mean greater adverse impacts from relatively higher levels of infra- and LFN noise pollution,
- No current models exist which accurately predict real wind farm infrasound and low frequency noise pollution,
- Children, older people, pregnant women are especially sensitive and threatened,
- Safe setback distances for different sized wind turbines in different terrain have NOT yet been established and demonstrated to protect the surrounding population.
- Change the current noise measurements to full spectrum measurement inside homes and recognize that A-Weighted Sound Level (dBA) is inappropriate and unsafe because it does not include low-frequency noise and infrasound,
- Stop the use of dBA for wind turbine noise assessments immediately,
- Stop the wind power subsidies immediately.
We look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you in advance.
( English)
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Sehr geehrte Entscheidungsträger, Politiker, Mitglieder des EU-Parlaments,
der EU-Kommission und Behördenvertreter,
5.1. Beachten Sie die bereits vor 30 Jahren gewonnenen wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisse zu den Gefahren der Schallemissionen von Windkraftanlagen in der Untersuchung von Dr. Kelley NASA-Studie und den historischen Überblick zum Lärm durch WEA..
Diese Studien haben gezeigt, dass vor allem der Infraschall durch geschlossene Fenster und Wände dringt, und auf diese Weise zusätzlich zu Resonanzen und Verstärkungen innerhalb der Häuser führt. Dies wiederum hat dadurch noch stärkere Auswirkungen auf die Bewohner.
5.2 Hören Sie auf die Hilferufe der vielen Menschen weltweit, die sogar ihre Häuser verlassen wegen des Dauerlärms benachbarter Windkraftwerke. Erfahrungsberichte auf www.epaw.org; www.napaw.org; www.illwind.org; www.opfer.windwahn.de
5.3. Erkennen Sie an, dass der Dauerschall von Windparks zu den schlimmsten nächtlichen Lärmquellen der heutigen Zeit gehört und dass Schlafentzug vom
UN-Ausschuss gegen Folter (CAT) als eine der Methoden der Folter benannt wird.
5.4. Nehmen Sie zur Kenntnis, dass die Windindustrie aus wirtschaftlichen Gründen verhindern will, dass die Öffentlichkeit und die verantwortlichen Behördenvertreter von den Beweisen für tieffrequenten und Infraschall emittiert von WEA erfahren, inklusive folgender Fakten:
Daher fordern wir Sie auf:
Wir freuen uns auf Ihre Antwort. Mit bestem Dank im Voraus.
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Mesdames et Messieurs les responsables politiques, fonctionnaires et décideurs, membres du Parlement et de la Commission de l’Union Européenne,
1) Le 29 Avril 2015 est la date du 20ème anniversaire de la journée mondiale de sensibilisation internationale concernant le bruit International Noise Awareness Day.
Nous tenons à vous alerter sur les dangers des infrasons et des bruits de basses fréquences (ILFN) qui ont été totalement et volontairement ignorés par les industriels de l’éolien, mais aussi par les hommes politiques et ce qui est encore plus regrettable par les autorités sanitaires internationales.
Dans le monde entier l'industrie éolienne fait le maximum pour construire des éoliennes le plus près possible du domicile des riverains en ignorant délibérément les graves problèmes de santé et les perturbations du sommeil engendrés par ces machines causées directement par les basses fréquences qu’elles émettent .
Les autorités gouvernementales ont été ainsi des complices en ignorant les preuves scientifiques existantes, et les préjudices subis.
2) Nous vous demandons donc de faire votre devoir, et de mener une enquête sur cette question Il y a maintenant concernant ces phénomènes, une multitude d’informations, scientifiques et cliniques indépendantes des industriels du Vent.
Celles-ci sont répertoriées sur les sites internet tels que epaw.org; ( 878 organisations de 24 pays européens) ; na-paw.org ( 106 organisations Usa–Canada ) ; et par l’ONG waubrafoundation.org.au en Australie. (537 références internationales sont aussi répertoriées sur le site wind-watch.org)
Des preuves scientifiques sont aussi consultables dans le « Syndrome Eolien » édité par le médecin américain Dr Nina Pierpont, MD, Ph.D., 2009. (windturbinesyndrome.com) ou le livre publié en 2009 « The Wind Farm Scam » par le Dr John Etherington, professeur à l’Université de Wales
3) Les faits montrent qu’une éolienne émet des basses fréquences audibles (LFN) - moins de 200 Hz et des infrasons inaudibles - moins de 20 Hz, mais très bien ressentis .
Ceux-ci entraînent des effets néfastes et extrêmement dangereux pour la santé humaine.
La corrélation directe des symptômes de santé et des vibrations infrasonores et des basses fréquences a été mise en évidence par le scientifique américain Dr Neil Kelley dans les années 1980. Plus récemment par le travail de Steven Cooper en Australie à Cape
Bridgewater pour le compte du promoteur éolien, « Pacific Hydro », a confirmé de nombreux aspects de la recherche de Kelley trente ans plus tôt.
4) La durée de vie d’une éoliennes est de 20 à 25 années et il faudra probablement attendre encore 25 ans de plus lorsque des nouvelles éoliennes (repowering) seront automatiquement mises au même endroit pour les remplacer.
Il est donc impossible à une personne d’y échapper durant toute son existence. Ces gens seront donc exposés aux infrasons produits par les pales de ces machines qui passent devant les mats.
5) Par conséquent, nous vous demandons fermement de:
5.1. Commencer à prendre en compte les évidences scientifiques sur les dangers des émissions sonores des éoliennes, qui remontent à plus de 30 ans (étude de la NASA et autres qui donnent un aperçu historique sur le bruit des éoliennes). Ces études ont montré que les infrasons pénétraient plus particulièrement par les fenêtres et à travers les murs, et même entraient en résonance et s’amplifiaient dans les habitations pour causer des effets encore plus sensibles (cdn.knightlab.com), (ou en France le rapport de l’Académie de médecine), ou comme indiqué sans contestation possible par l’Officiel Prévention Santé et sécurité au Travail. Une lettre d’alerte de la Fédération Environnement Durable a été officiellement adressée par courrier à l’ensemble des parlementaires français le 19 avril 2015
5.2. Cesser d'ignorer la multitude de riverains qui dans le monde entier crient au secours et sont même pour certains contraints à quitter leurs maisons à cause des émissions sonores des éoliennes (voir par exemple: epaw.org; na-paw.org),
5.3. Reconnaître que les usines éoliennes sont d'aujourd'hui un des pires « pollueurs acoustiques » et que la privation prolongée de sommeil est considérée comme une méthode de torture par la « Le Comité des Nations Unies contre la torture » (CAT),
5.4. Reconnaître les vérités que l'industrie du vent veut cacher aux décideurs politiques et aux responsables bien qu’il existe de nombreuses preuves concernant les infrasons et basses fréquences et que:
- Plus les éoliennes sont puissantes plus elle émettent d’infrasons et de basses fréquences,
- Les infrasons sont connus comme se propageant à de très, très grandes distances,
- La pollution sonore avec de nombreuses éoliennes est beaucoup plus forte que celle d’une seule éolienne, bien que des conséquences graves pour la santé puissent provenir d’une seule de ces machine si l’habitation ou le lieu de travail est trop près.
- Les Infrasons émis par les éoliennes plantées sur des collines se propagent à de plus grandes distances,
- Des vents plus forts, une humidité de l'air plus importante , un bruit de fond plus faible dans les zones rurales, l’ inversion de température, etc., peuvent entraîner de plus grandes incidences négatives et des niveaux relativement élevés de pollution par des infrasons et des basses fréquences,
- Aucun des modèles actuels existants n’est adapté pour prédire avec précision la pollution infrasonore et des basses fréquences des éoliennes,
- Les enfants, les personnes âgées, les femmes enceintes sont particulièrement sensibles et sont les plus menacés,
- Des distances de protection sans risque adaptés aux différentes tailles d’éoliennes, dans différents environnements n’ont jamais été établies pour protéger les riverains.
- Il est indispensable de modifier les mesures de bruit actuelles et de mesurer le spectre complet dans les habitations. Il faut reconnaître que la mesure sonore actuelle globale du son (dBA) est inappropriée et dangereuse parce qu'elle ne tient pas compte des basses fréquences et des infrasons,
- Il est fondamental de ne plus utiliser les dBA pour les évaluations de bruit des éoliennes
- il est nécessaire d’arrêter immédiatement de subventionner les industriels de l’éolien
Dans l’attente de votre réponse, nous vous prions d’agréer l’expression de nos sentiments distingués.
( Français)
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23 kwietnia 2015 r.
Do Decydentów, Polityków, Członków Parlamentu Europejskiego i Komisji Europejskiej oraz Odpowiedzialnych Organów i Urzędników Publicznych i Państwowych
Szanowni Państwo!
5.5. zmienili obecną metodykę pomiaru hałasu tak, aby pomiary te obejmowały pełne widmo częstotliwości dźwięków i były przeprowadzane wewnątrz domów, a także uznali, że metoda pomiaru tzw. poziomu dźwięku ważonego za pomocą krzywej korekcyjnej A (dBA) jest nieodpowiednia, ponieważ wycięte są z niej dźwięki niskiej częstotliwości i infradźwięki;
5.6. bezzwłocznie zaprzestali stosowania skali dBA do pomiarów akustycznych dotyczących turbin wiatrowych;
5.7. natychmiast zaprzestali dotowania energetyki wiatrowej między innymi z powodu narażenia zdrowia i jakości życia społeczności lokalnych.
Oczekujemy na Państwa rychłą odpowiedź, za którą serdecznie z góry dziękujemy.
Z wyrazami szacunku,
Oczekujemy na Państwa rychłą odpowiedź, za którą serdecznie z góry dziękujemy. Z wyrazami szacunku,
Jean-Louis Butré Europejska Platforma Przeciwników Farm Wiatrowych (EPAW) prezes 3 rue des eaux Paris 75016
France contact@epaw.
org www.epaw.org
+33 6 80 99 38 08
Sherri Lange Północno-Amerykańska Platforma Przeciwników Energetyki Wiatrowej
(NA-PAW, USA-Canada)
CEO 416-567-5115
kodaisl@rogers. com
www.na-paw.org
Sarah Laurie, WAUBRA FOUNDATION
BMBS CEO PO Box 7112 Banyule VIC 3084 AUSTRALIA
+61 474 050 463 s
arah@waubrafoundation.org.au
www.waubrafoundation.org.au
( Polish)
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23 Nisan 2015
Sayın Karar Vericiler, Politikacılar, Avrupa Parlamentosu ve Avrupa Komisyonu Üyeleri ve Diğer Kamu Görevlileri,
Saygılarımızla,
Jean -Louis Butré
Başkan
European Platform Against Wind Farms (EPAW)
3 rue des eaux Paris 75016 Fransa
contact@epaw.org
http://www.epaw.org
+33 6 80 99 38 08
Sherri Lange
CEO
North American Platform Against Wind Power (NA-PAW, ABD-Kanada)
416-567-5115
kodaisl@rogers.com
www.na-paw.org
Sarah Laurie
WAUBRA FOUNDATION
BMBS CEO PO
Box 7112 Banyule VIC 3084 AVUSTRALUYA
+61 474 050 463
sarah@waubrafoundation.org.au
www.waubrafoundation.org.au/
_____________________________________________________________________________
23. april 2015
Åbent brev om vindmøllestøj
og opfordring til handling som reaktion på dette brev
Kære beslutningstagere, politikere, medlemmer af EU-Parlamentet,
EU-Kommissionen og andre ansvarlige embedsmænd,
5.1 begynder med at studere den videnskabelige dokumentation om farerne ved vindmøllestøj, som går tilbage til 30 år (NASA’s undersøgelse, blandt andre og en historisk oversigt om vindmøllestøjen). Disse undersøgelser har vist, at især infralyd trænger gennem lukkede vinduer og vægge og endda genlyder og forstærkes i rum og derved forårsager endnu stærkere virkninger.
5.2 Stopper med at ignorere de mange mennesker over hele verden, der råber om hjælp og endda forlader deres hjem på grund af vindmøllens støj (for eksempel:epaw.org, na-paw.org).
5.3. Erkender, at vindmølleparker er en af nutidens værste støjforurener om natten og at langvarig søvnmangel anses for at være en torturmetode (FN Komité mod tortur (CAT).
5.4. Erkender, at vindmølleindustrien ikke ønsker, at offentligheden og ansvarlige embedsmænd lærer, at der er mange beviser på infra- og lavfrekvent vindmøllestøj, herunder kendsgerningerne, at:
- flere megawatt produktion af mere kraftfulde vindmøller betyder en større andel af infralyd og lavfrekvent støj,
- infralyd er kendt for at udbrede sig over meget lange afstande,
- støjforurening fra vindmølleparker med mange vindmøller er meget stærkere end kun én vindmølle, selvom alvorlige helbredsskader kan forårsages af kun én vindmølle, hvis den er for tæt på boliger og arbejdspladser,
- infralyd fra vindmøller på bakker vil udbredes over større afstande,
- Øget vindstyrke, højere luftfugtighed, lavere baggrundsstøj i landlige omgivelser, temperaturinversioner osv. kan betyde større negativ påvirkning igennem relativt højere grader af infra- og lavfrekvent støjforurening.
- Der findes ingen nuværende modeller, der nøjagtigt kan forudsige infralyd og lavfrekvent støjforurening fra virkelige vindparker.
- Børn, ældre mennesker og gravide kvinder er specielt følsomme og truede.
- Sikkerhedsafstande for vindmøller af forskellige størrelser og i forskelligt terræn er IKKE endnu etablerede og dokumenterede til beskyttelse af den omgivende befolkning.
- Revider de nuværende støjmålinger til målinger af fuldt spektrum inde i huse og anerkend at det A-vægtede lydniveau (dBA) er uegnet og usikkert, fordi det ikke inkluderer lavfrekvent støj og infralyd.
- Stop øjeblikkeligt brugen af dBA til vindmøllestøj og infralydmålinger,
- Stop øjeblikkeligt subsidierne til vindenergi.
Vi ser frem til at høre fra jer snart. På forhånd tak.
Med venlig hilsen
Odprto pismo o hrupu vetrnih turbin
s prošnjo za odgovor na to pismo in ukrepanje
Spoštovani odločevalci, politiki, poslanci Evropskega parlamenta, člani Evropske komisije in drugi odgovorni javni uslužbenci!
Zato odločno zahtevamo, da:
Že vnaprej se veselimo Vašega odgovora. Hvala.
Jean -Louis Butré
European Platform Against Wind Farms (EPAW)
President
3 rue des eaux Paris 75016 France
contact@epaw.org
http://www.epaw.org
+33 6 80 99 38 08
Sherri Lange
North American Platform Against Wind Power (NA-PAW, USA-Canada)
CEO
416-567-5115
kodaisl@rogers.com
www.na-paw.org
Sarah Laurie WAUBRA FOUNDATION
BMBS CEO PO
Box 7112 Banyule VIC 3084 AUSTRALIA
+61 474 050 463
sarah@waubrafoundation.org.au
www.waubrafoundation.org.au/