Are Wind Turbines Making Japanese Citizens Sick?
The idea that wind turbines can cause health problems isn’t new, but now a fresh crop of complaints is appearing in Japan. Asahi Shimbun reports that over 70 people living near turbines in the country have supposedly fallen sick due to a mysterious “wind turbine disease”.
Japanese residents are complaining of headaches, dizziness, and insomnia, and while no one is sure of the cause, the Environment Ministry suspects it has to do with low-frequency sounds produced by wind turbines.
Similar complaints have come from people living close to air-conditioning equipment and factory boilers— both of which also produce low-frequency sounds of 100 hertz or less.
The Environment Ministry is examining research showing a potential link between wind turbines and health in order to determine a plan of action. Japan currently has over 1,400 turbines.
Photo Credit: NREL
Of course this could all just be psychosomatic especially since in Japan something like 80% of the population believe that having fans on when you go to sleep can suffocate you and that personality is defined by your blood type.
Don’t get me wrong Japan has come up with some great scientific advancements but I doubt this is one of them.
if it is a matter of low-frequency sounds, is there not a way to counter those noises with some kind of innocuous white noise? something akin to noise cancellation headphones maybe?
that, or insulate nearby homes with acoustical tiles..
We live with 50 and 60Hz hum from our AC electrical power on a daily basis, and have for all of our lives. Low frequency sounds aren’t a new thing, so why the health claims now?
This picture is not Japan. They drive on the left side!