Can Wind Turbines Make People Sick?

Ontario and Australia have been host to some passionate debate about whether or not wind turbines can make people sick, and whether there is such a thing as "wind sickness", or "wind turbine syndrome". European countries pay us little mind when our people send them complaints, so is wind sickness real? And why does it only seem to be a problem in Ontario and Australia?

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What is "Wind Sickness"?

Loss of sleep, headaches, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, and other symptoms resulting from sleep loss (eg: reduced memory, difficulty concentrating, diminished ability to think critically and problem solve)... all the symptoms attributed to wind sickness are typical of stress and anxiety disorders, which can be caused by any unwanted experience. A recent study in Australia demonstrated that these and other symptoms often multiply when third parties advise local people that these symptoms are possible (ie: the 'nocebo' effect). The reality is that there is no such thing as a specific "Wind Turbine Syndrome" that has anything in particular to do with wind energy. Rather, there are many stress and anxiety disorders, and some people stress about wind energy.

Physicians and Nurses Weigh In

In 2011, the Ontario College of Family Physicians, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, the Asthma Society of Canada and the Ontario Lung Association sponsored an advertising campaign that voiced this message: "Ontario doctors, nurses and other health professionals support energy conservation combined with wind and solar power, to help us move away from coal." The health profession says coal is a problem, and wind is part of the solution.

The Evidence is Consistent

Over 30 years of studies by protagonists and antagonists alike have failed to show repeatable scientific evidence that wind turbines are actually able to make people sick. Over 100,000 turbines are already installed throughout the world right now, mostly in Europe, many within a short walk of the owners' homes. If wind sickness is real, then there should be far more of it in Europe.

The Alternatives Cause Real, Measureable Problems

Conversely, it is a well proven fact that burning coal causes the premature death of hundreds of Ontarians, and hurts those with asthma and other respiratory ailments. Similarly, there are many reports which conclusively show the dangers of nuclear energy, including a list of over 800 "incidents" such as Fukushima, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and many less well known: even "incidents" at Elliot Lake and Pickering in Ontario.

The Verdict Is...

A growing body of domestic and international studies has repeatedly proven that wind energy poses no meaningful health risk to humans, and that wind plays an important role in helping us move away from more dangerous alternatives like coal and nuclear.

Wind turbines do not make people sick, but badly managed projects and anti-wind activists can cause stress to the neighbours, and stress can make people sick. Residents should be wary of placing too much confidence in the accusations raised by anti-wind activists. And developers should be expected to respect local residents and address their concerns during the course of a project: this is why Ontario and most jurisdictions have rules about public consultation.

Tragically, it seems that the only people who experience the symptoms of "wind sickness" are those who do not own wind turbines. The simplest way to cure people of "wind sickness" is to involve them in the ownership of the project.

In the autumn when the leaves in your freshly raked pile suddenly fly away you are seeing wind energy in its purest form. Most of the time people take for granted that the wind is a form of energy - kinetic energy.

How do we capture that kinetic energy and transform it into electrical energy and how does wind power work to power homes and even towns?

Wind power can be used as two forms of energy, mechanical and electrical. Windmills are an example of mechanical energy, so is a sail boat being pushed by the wind. In both cases the winds kinetic energy doesn't have to be transformed, it is used in its pure state.

Mechanical energy from the wind is seen in wind powered electric turbines that generate power for homes, towns, or for sale to power companies.

The wind energy here must be transformed from its natural state to an electrical state usable by normal electrical outlets.

Wind turbines come in two designs: the horizontal-axis 샌즈카지노 which looks like a propeller and the vertical-axis which resembles egg beaters. The horizontal design is the one most commonly in use today.

Components of the Wind Turbine

To get the energy from the wind to turn your television on and off there are a series of steps involved. To the naked eye all that is seen are the blades on the windmill turning. The magic is on the inside.

When the wind blows, the kinetic energy turns the blades which are attached to a hub. The turning blades cause the shaft inside the enclosure turn. The rotation speed is increased by the generator. The generator then uses a magnetic field to convert this rotating energy into electricity.

At this point you have electricity however; it still needs to be converted to a usable voltage system. Once the generator makes the electricity it sends it out to a converter to prepare it for distribution to the grid.

In order for wind energy to be usable by many people there needs to be a large amount made. This is where wind farms come in. Many wind turbines are tied together to produce mass amount of electricity.

This electricity can be supplied to the grid as long as there is wind to generate it. When there is not enough wind, the power grid must step in and take over. Conversely, when the wind generator produces a surplus of electricity the utility companies are able to purchase it or back off in their electricity production.

Wind power is the breeze of the future. Mother Earth has given us all the tools we need for renewable energy. Knowing how wind power works gets you one step closer to embracing this simple yet amazing power source in our homes.