Wind Turbines and Human Health Jeffrey M Ellenbogen

Wind Turbines and Human Health Jeffrey M. Ellenbogen, MMSc, MD

Background Education: • MD, MMSc (Tufts, Harvard) • Neurology residency (UPENN) • Neurology fellowship (UPENN) • Postdoctoral fellowship (Harvard) Wind Turbine Experience: • Mass DPH/DEP • Medical evaluations (IMEs) Work Experience • MGH, Harvard • JHU Scientific Experience: • Including sound and human health Board certification: • Neurology • Sleep Medicine Volunteer experience • BCo. FD

The Potential Problem Signals examined Topics addressed • Noise and vibration • sleep disruption • Shadow Flicker • Neurological disorders • Cardiovascular disorders • Respiratory disorders • Pain • Headache • Seizures • Other

Studies addressing potential health problems • No quality support for Wind Turbine Syndrome • No quality support for flicker-related health effects • “Health Canada” • largest, most rigorous, most comprehensive set of studies evaluating potential impact on human health from wind turbines noise or shadow flicker

Health Canada DESIGN OF THE STUDY HEALTH VARIABLES EXAMINED BY THE STUDY: • “Community Noise and Health Study” • Sleep • Conducted: 2012 -2014 • Stress • Cross-sectional, exposure-response design • Heart Disease; high BP • Published: 2016 • Headaches; chronic Pain • >1200 people (Ontario & PEI) • Asthma • Age 18 -79 • Dizziness • Goal: examine potential relationships between wind turbines and health outcomes among people living near turbines • Tinnitus • Sound: < 25 d. BA to 46 d. BA • Shadow flicker: 0 hrs to more than 30 hrs

Health Canada Findings & Notable Caveats Findings and conclusion Note: • No association between noise levels or shadow flicker and human health outcomes • A-weighted and Cweighted sound levels were highly correlated with one another