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‘Wind turbine syndrome’: fact or fiction?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2013

A Farboud ,
R Crunkhorn  and
A Trinidade
A Farboud*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT Head and Neck Surgery, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Rhyl, Wales, UK
R Crunkhorn
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, England, UK
A Trinidade
Affiliation:
Department of ENT Head and Neck Surgery, James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth, England, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Amir Farboud, Department of ENT Head and Neck Surgery, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Bodelwyddan,Rhyl LL18 5UJ, Wales, UK Fax: +44 (0)1745 583 910 E-mail: amirfarboud@doctors.net.uk
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Abstract

Objective:

Symptoms, including tinnitus, ear pain and vertigo, have been reported following exposure to wind turbine noise. This review addresses the effects of infrasound and low frequency noise and questions the existence of ‘wind turbine syndrome’.

Design:

This review is based on a search for articles published within the last 10 years, conducted using the PubMed database and Google Scholar search engine, which included in their title or abstract the terms ‘wind turbine’, ‘infrasound’ or ‘low frequency noise’.

Results:

There is evidence that infrasound has a physiological effect on the ear. Until this effect is fully understood, it is impossible to conclude that wind turbine noise does not cause any of the symptoms described. However, many believe that these symptoms are related largely to the stress caused by unwanted noise exposure.

Conclusion:

There is some evidence of symptoms in patients exposed to wind turbine noise. The effects of infrasound require further investigation.

Keywords

NoiseWindAuditory PerceptionAuditory Threshold
Type
Review Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 127 , Issue 3 , March 2013 , pp. 222 - 226
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2013

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