Renewables: Medical experts voice concerns over effects of turbines
BY IAIN RAMAGE
More than 100 international health experts and scientists concerned about
noise and other fallout from giant windfarms have urged the World Health
Organisation (WHO) to intervene.
Two years after activists in the Highlands demanded a thorough
investigation into the impact of windfarms, the rallying call has spread
across Europe, Australasia and the US.
Doctors and scientists sharing the north of Scotland’s concern about the
alleged impact of turbines on human and animal health want urgent WHO
guide-lines to combat the problems.
Headaches, high blood pressure and even cancer are being blamed on
dis-tress caused by major windfarms.
Many victims have cited stress due to the inability to relax or sleep
because of constant noise and vibration emanating from turbines.
The European arm of the WHO is currently revising its environmental noise
guidelines in the light of a wealth of recent research and, for the first
time, is in-vestigating the impact of turbines.
It will focus on issues including sleep disturbance, hearing impairment and
adverse births. Almost 120 experts and other concerned individuals with
relevant expertise have signed an open letter to the WHO.
Argyll-based activist Christine Metcalfe said: ‘Complaints of adverse
health impacts from those forced to live close to turbines continue to
rise. The problems vary from site to site depending upon local topography,
height and number of turbines and distance between turbines and homes’.
Campaigners have long claimed the industry has failed to monitor and
mit-igate noise issues.
Radiologist Dr Rachel Connor, a signatory who lives beside the massive
Whitelee scheme near Glasgow, said: ‘There is overwhelming anecdotal and
scientific evidence but those suffering are not being listened to by the
Scottish Government.’
Highland anti windfarm campaigner Lyndsey Ward said: ‘The protection of its
people is the first duty of any government, yet this SNP-led administration
does not even insist on compulsory noise monitoring at approved wind
factories.’
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: ‘We act to ensure that
residents do not face unacceptable, adverse impacts of wind turbines. Any
new guidelines that might be issued by the WHO will be considered as and
when they are brought forward?’
Stephanie Clark of trade body Scottish Renewables said: ‘We’re not aware of
any peer-reviewed, robust scientific evidence linking wind turbines with
ill health.’
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