* Study will focus on 2,000 homes near wind installations
* Results expected in 2014
* Similar studies in other countries show little or no link
* Residents near wind projects complain of headaches
July 10 (Reuters) – Canada will conduct a study to explore
if there is a relationship between wind turbine noise and
health problems reported by people living near wind power
developments, the government health department said on Tuesday.
“This study is in response to questions from residents living
near wind farms about possible health effects of low frequency
noise generated by wind turbines,” Leona Aglukkaq, Canada’s
health minister, said in a statement.
The study, in collaboration with Statistics Canada, will
focus on an initial sample of 2,000 homes that are near about a
dozen wind turbine facilities in Canada.
In addition to taking physical measurements from
participants, such as blood pressure, investigators will conduct
face-to-face interviews and take noise measurements inside and
outside of some homes to validate sound modeling.
Similar studies conducted in other countries have turned up
little to no evidence that wind turbines pose a health risk to
nearby residents.
Several studies have noted some evidence that turbine noise
can disrupt sleep. Some people living near wind turbines have
complained of headaches, earaches, anxiety and high blood
pressure.
The results of the Canadian study are expected in 2014.
(Reporting By Nicole Mordant in Vancouver; Editing by Peter
Galloway)
