Aussie Medical Association rejects wind farm-related health fears

Mar 17, 2014 - The Australian Medical Association (AMA) today said there is no evidence that wind turbines affect human health and pointed to increased anxiety or negative perceptions about wind farms as possible reasons for some complaints.

“The reporting of supposed ‘health scares’ or the spreading of misinformation about wind farm developments may contribute to heightened anxiety,” explained Geoffrey Dobb, AMA vice president and chair of the AMA Public Health Committee. He said that the infrasound and low frequency sound coming from newer wind farms in Australia is far below the level where it has been proved that health effects occur. Dobb noted that there is no accepted physiological mechanism where sub-audible infrasound impacts human health.

In its “AMA Position Statement on Wind Farms and Health 2014” the association calls for increased community consultation and engagement early in the wind project planning process so as to minimise misinformation and anxiety and help reduce community division.

Geoffrey Dobb pointed out that unlike other power generation sources, wind farms do not create greenhouse gases, other pollutants or waste, all of which have been proved to cause “significant” direct and indirect health effects.

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