Wind turbines causing sleep loss – study

Wednesday 28th November 2012

According to a new study conducted by American and English researchers people living in the vicinity of industrial wind sites could suffer from significant sleep loss, along with a number of other health problems.

The study claims that the data they have gathered from surveying 23 people that live 410 to 1500 yards from the Mars Hill wind farm and 15 living within the same distance from Vinalhaven wind farm were sleepier during the day and didn't get as much sleep during the night as the 25 and 16 people surveyed living up to 4 miles away from Mars Hill and Vinalhaven respectively. Almost 25% of the residents living close to the turbines reported they had been diagnosed with depression or anxiety since the wind farm had been built. No resident who lived further away from the sites reported this problem. The study also states that around 25% of respondents who lived closest to the wind turbines reported being prescribed sleeping pills, compared to just 10% of the people who lived further away.

The results suggest that there are similar health implications from industrial wind turbines (IWT) compared to other causes of excessive environmental noise. It has been said that IWT affect residents sleep and health more than other sources of environmental noise such as road, rail and aircraft noise.

Tags: sleep study research wind farm turbines sleeping

Category: Sleep Research

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