Low Frequency and Infrasound

Noise Immission from Wind

Farms and the potential for VibroAcoustic disease
Malcolm Hayes
Hayes McKenzie Partnership Ltd
Machynlleth & Salisbury
www.hayesmckenzie.co.uk
Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

Wind Farm LFN and VAD

Introduction
The Issue
VAD
Measurements of infrasound and low frequency
noise from wind farms
Comparison of Levels between Wind Farm and
VAD Levels
Why might this link occur?
Conclusions
Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

The Issue
http://kirbymtn.blogspot.com/2006/04/vibroacoustic-disease-and-wind.html
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Vibroacoustic disease and wind turbines #
From Calvin Luther Martin, Malone, N.Y.:
Mariana Alves-Pereira, Dept. of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, New University of Lisbon,
Caparica, Portugal, has for many years been part of a team of physicians and scientists studying the
pathophysiology of low-frequency noise and infrasound on humans. She is Assistant Coordinator of
the Vibroacoustic Disease Project.
Alves-Pereira and colleagues have been doing epidemiologic studies of airline pilots and technicians
and other people who are chronically exposed to low-frequency noise and infrasound. The effects are
grim: cardiovascular, respiratory, neurologic, and renal pathology and symptoms, which they call
vibroacoustic disease.
Alves-Pereira, in discussion with physicians Amanda Harry in the U.K. and Nina Pierpont in the
U.S., is now looking into the low-frequency noise and infrasound produced by industrial wind
turbines, to determine whether they, too, can cause such vibroacoustic disease (VAD). AlvesPereira's initial assessment, based on noise measurements taken inside and outside the homes of wind
turbine neighbors, is that turbines are indeed a likely cause of VAD.

Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

UK References
UKNA Report: Location, Location,
Location

Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

VAD Symptoms

Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

VAD Exposure Noise Levels

VAD Exposure Noise Levels
130
125

-5

Sound Pressure Level: dB re 2.10 Pa

120
115
110
105
100

Cockpit: 63 dB(A)
Automobile: 70.8 dB(A)
Commuter Train: 63 dB(A)
Dance Club: 109 db(A)
Subway: 69 dB(A)
Bar: 93 dB(A)

95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45

1.
60
2.
00
2.
50
3.
15
4.
00
5.
00
6.
30
8.
00
10
.0
0
12
.5
0
16
.0
0
20
.0
0
25
.0
0
31
.5
0
40
.0
0
50
.0
0
63
.0
0
80
.0
0
10
0.
00
12
5.
0
16 0
0.
0
20 0
0.
0
25 0
0.
0
31 0
5.
0
40 0
0.
0
50 0
0.
00

40

Third Octave Band Centre Frequency (Hz)

Vibroasouctic disease: N.A.A. Castelo Branco and M. Alves-Pereira: : Noise & Health 2004, 6:23, 3-20

Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

The measurement of low frequency noise at

three UK wind farms
Selection of measurement sites based upon reports
in national press as giving rise to infrasound and
low frequency noise
Measurements performed at external and internal
locations
Measurements performed over extended periods: 2
4 weeks monitoring
Analysis of periods when described by occupants
as audible and unacceptable.
Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

Infrasound Measurements

Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

Infrasound Measurements

Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

External Noise Levels

Low Frequency Noise Assessment
External ETSU-R-97: Location 1: 03:00 14th May 2005
105
100

Threshold of Audibility: ISO 226

95

DEFRA LFN Criterion Curve: Night

90

Watanabe & Moller

-5

Sound Pressure Level: dB re 2.10 Pa

85

85 dB(G)

80

Measured Leq Noise Level

75

Measured L90 Noise Level

70

Measured L05 Noise Level

65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
8

10

12

16

20

25

31.5

40

50

63

80

100

125

Third Octave Band Centre Frequency (Hz)

Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

160

200

250

315

400

500

Internal Noise Level

Low Frequency Noise Assessment
Location 1: 03:05 14th May 2005
130
Threshold of Audibility: ISO 226

120

DEFRA LFN Criterion Curve: Night

110
-5

Pa

Watanabe & Moller

85 dB(G)

100

Measured Leq Noise Level

Measured L10 Noise Level

Sound Pressure Level: dB re 2.10

90

Measured L90 Noise Level

80

Measured L05 Noise Level

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1

1.25

1.6

2.5 3.15

6.3

10

12

16

20

25

31.5

40

50

Third Octave Band Centre Frequency (Hz)

Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

63

80

100

125

160 200

250

315 400

500

Comparison of Levels
Comparison of Sound Pressure Levels for Prolonged exposure for VAD
with Measured Internal Wind Farm Noise Levels at Complianants House

100

100

95

95

90

90
85

45
40

Comparison of Sound Pressure Levels for Prolonged exposure for VAD

with Measured Internal Wind Farm Noise Levels at Complianants House

Third Octave Band Centre Frequency (Hz)

500

400

315

250

200

160

80

125

63

50

40

100

500

400

315

250

200

160

125

100

80

63

50

40

31.5

25

500

400

315

250

200

160

125

100

80

63

50

40

31.5

25

20

16

12

10

6.3

2.5

3.15

10

20

15

16

20

12

30
25

10

35

40

45

50

6.3

60
55

65

2.5

70

3.15

75

80

1.6

Sound Pressure Level: Leq: dB re 2.10-5Pa

90
85

125
120
115
110
105
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10

1.25

95

1.6

Automobile: from Ref 3

Comparison of Sound Pressure Levels for Prolonged exposure for VAD

with Measured Internal Wind Farm Noise Levels at Complianants House

100

1.25

25

Measured Leq Noise Level

Cockpit: from ref 3

105

Sound Pressure Level: Leq: dB re 2.10-5Pa

20

Third Octave Band Centre Frequency (Hz)

Third Octave Band Centre Frequency (Hz)

Measured Leq Noise Level

Measured Leq Noise Level

31.5

500

400

315

250

200

160

80

125

63

100

50

40

25

20

31.5

16

12

10

6.3

10

2.5

15

10

3.15

20

15

30
25

20

16

35

25

1.6

30

35

50

12

40

60
55

10

45

65

50

70

60
55

75

6.3

65

80

70

2.5

75

3.15

80

1.6

85

1.25

Sound Pressure Level: Leq: dB re 2.10-5Pa

105

1.25

Sound Pressure Level: Leq: dB re 2.10-5Pa

Comparison of Sound Pressure Levels for Prolonged exposure for VAD

with Measured Internal Wind Farm Noise Levels at Complianants House
105

Third Octave Band Centre Frequency (Hz)

Commuter Train: from ref 3

Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

Measured Leq Noise Level

Dance Club: from ref 3

Comparison of Levels
Comparison of Sound Pressure Levels for Prolonged exposure for VAD
with Measured Internal Wind Farm Noise Levels at Complianants House
105

100

100

95

95

90
85

90
85

Sound Pressure Level: Leq: dB re 2.10-5Pa

80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20

80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20

15

15

Measured Leq Noise Level

500

400

315

250

200

160

80

125

63

100

50

40

25

31.5

20

16

12

10

6.3

2.5

3.15

Third Octave Band Centre Frequency (Hz)

1.6

10

500

400

315

250

200

160

80

125

100

63

50

40

25

20

31.5

16

12

10

6.3

2.5

3.15

1.6

1.25

10

1.25

Sound Pressure Level: Leq: dB re 2.10-5Pa

Comparison of Sound Pressure Levels for Prolonged exposure for VAD

with Measured Internal Wind Farm Noise Levels at Complianants House
105

Third Octave Band Centre Frequency (Hz)

Subway: from ref 3

Measured Leq Noise Level

Comparison of Sound Pressure Levels for Prolonged exposure for VAD

with Measured Wind Farm Noise Levels at Complianants House
Internal and External
105
100

-5

Sound Pressure Level: Leq: dB re 2.10 Pa

95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
6.3

10

12

16

20

25

31.5

40

50

63

80

100

125

160

200

250

315

400

500

Third Octave Band Centre Frequency (Hz)

Source Levels from Ref 5
Internal Wind Farm Noise Level within Receptor Location

Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

External Wind Farm Noise Levels at Receptor Location

Bar: from ref 3

Why might this link occur?

Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

Why might this link occur?

Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

Body Surface Induced Vibration

from Low Frequency Noise

Measurement of Human Body Surface Vibrations Induced by Complex Low-Frequency Noise Composed of Two Pure Tones: Y. Takahashi, S Maeda:
Journal of Low Frequency Noise, Vibration and Active Control: Vol. 22 No. 4 2003
A New Approach to Assess Low Frequency Noise in the Working Environment: Y. Takahashi, Y Yonekawa, K. Kanada: Industrial Health 2001, 39, 281 286

Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006

Conclusions
Internal/External Infrasound and Low
Frequency Data now available for
operational wind farms in the UK
Levels are significantly below those
identified to give VAD
Unlikely that symptoms will result through
induced internal body vibration from
incident wind farm noise
Low Frequency Noise: Bristol 2006