Omigawd! Australia’s peak medical body is funding research into ‘wind turbine sickness’

Medical body pledges $3.3m for research into ‘wind turbine sickness’ ABC News By environment reporter Sara Phillips 22 Mar 16 Australia’s leading medical funding body, the National Heath and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), has awarded $3.3 million to two researchers to look into whether proximity to wind turbines causes illness.

Key points:

One researcher to investigate wind turbine noise and sleep, mood and cardiovascular health
Another to look into impacts of wind turbine noise on sleep
Total of the two grants is $3.3m – much higher than average
Some have questioned why the turbine research received funding ahead of other projects

More research was recommended by a year-long study into wind turbine sickness by the NHMRC that found “no direct evidence that exposure to wind farm noise affects physical or mental health”.

It recommended $2.5 million over five years to fund researchers to undertake further study…….

Questions raised over research funding

Clean Energy Council policy manager Alicia Webb said multiple studies, both in Australia and overseas, had already concluded there is no evidence that wind farms cause adverse health effects in humans.

“This finding has been backed up by statements from leading national organisations such as the Australian Medical Association and the Australian Association of Acoustical Consultants, which have said there is not enough infrasound produced by wind farms to have a negative effect on humans living near wind farms,” she said.

John Iser from Doctors for the Environment questioned why the wind turbine sickness research received funding ahead of other projects.

“While we always welcome good quality research, the proposed studies are far removed from a real-life setting,” Dr Iser said.

“We live in a world with many pressing health concerns, it’s worrying that research on these issues will go begging while studies on wind farms receive millions of dollars.

“Only about 15 per cent of all grant applications receive NHMRC funding.” http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-22/3.3m-pledged-for-research-into-wind-turbine-sickness/7267946