Acoustic experts tell Senate inquiry into windfarms that no studies have found any physical reaction to so-called infrasound

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

There is no evidence to show that people are physically affected by low-frequency sound like that emitted by wind turbines, acoustic experts have told a Senate inquiry.

Members of the Association of Australian Acoustic Consultants (AAAC) told an inquiry into wind turbines on Wednesday that several studies have found no perceivable physical reaction to so-called infrasound.

“We can measure the level of infrasound in a windfarm, and we know what that level is, and we can measure it inside rooms, and that has been done on a number of occasions,” the chair of the AAAC windfarm subcommittee, Chris Turnbull, said.

“If we replicate that level at the same character, and the same frequencies, that person is essentially exposed to the same level of infrasound in terms of character and level [as a windfarm],” he said. “To date, all of the studies have suggested that there is no reaction to that level of infrasound.”

Infrasound is the low-frequency noise below the average audible level in humans.

Nationals senator Matt Canavan asked Turnbull: “Are you completely dismissing that at those decibel ratings or levels it [infrasound] won’t have any impact?”

“Every study conducted to date, that has been the case,” Turnbull answered, but admitted that he “would encourage further research”.

“We don’t expect that will change,” he said of the anticipated results of future research compared with results from recent research.

The evidence is in direct contrast with an opinion piece by Senate committee member, Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm.

He wrote in The Australian newspaper on Wednesday that there is a connection between infrasound and physical illness, and that denial of the link by “Big Wind” was similar to how big tobacco companies denied a link between smoking and cancer.

“This is not just a problem with wind turbines. Infrasound from any source has the potential to make people sick, including people living close to huge ventilator fans in coal mines or near gas and coal-fired power stations,” he said. “Whatever emerges from the inquiry, it’s clear government and industry indifference towards people suffering because of their proximity to wind turbines needs to end.”

AAAC member Renzo Tonin said acoustic experts were pushing for new research via the National Health and Medical Research Council to see if there were long-term effects of infrasound.

He is proposing studying 100 participants, including a control group of people who do not live anywhere near wind turbines, over six months to see if there is a “cumulative effect” of the impacts of infrasound.

“That should give us very, very good data,” Tonin said.

“The additional research that we are suggesting is a good idea and should include exposure over a long period of time,” Turnbull added.

Turnbull said it “was not possible” to stop everyone from hearing sound resulting from wind turbines, as about 10% of people have audio perception levels lower than the broader community.

“It doesn’t matter how quiet the noise is ... there are some people who find it annoying,” Turnbull said, adding that the infrasound from turbines is at the same level as other environmental noise.

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“These levels aren’t actually that unique. They’re from every other source in the environment – from the wind, from transport,” he said. “It’s not just a windfarm thing. It’s a lot of other sources produce sound at exactly the same frequency.”

The comments come just a day after Leyonhjelm swore at a satirical theatre group performing outside the site of the Melbourne inquiry.

The inquiry, which will continue in Canberra later this month, looks at what if any effects windfarms have on the health of local residents.