Wind Turbines and Public Health

Over 25 years of research into the impact of wind turbines on human health indicates that wind turbines, when constructed properly at the permitting authority’s approved setback distances, do not pose a risk to public health. Claims of health impacts from turbine sound, infrasound, shadow flicker, or EMF are not supported by evidence.

Key takeaways:

• Hundreds of thousands of people around the world live near and work in proximity to operating wind turbines with no ill health effects. More than 100 peer-reviewed scientific studies soundly discredit the claim that wind farms cause negative health impacts.
• The strongest epidemiological study suggests that there is not an association between noise from wind turbines and measures of psychological distress or mental health, nor is there evidence to link the noise to sleep disturbance or other physical health impacts.
• There is no scientific evidence to suggest that shadow flicker negatively affects human health. Several studies also conclude that shadow flicker from wind turbines does not pose a seizure risk.
• EMF levels measured at wind projects were four orders of magnitude lower than the levels known to cause harm to human health.

At the same time, wind energy delivers significant health benefits by reducing air pollution and lowering emissions tied to respiratory disease and premature mortality.