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Wind power seems like a pretty good idea. Throw up a bunch of windmills and their blades spin around and generate energy. The biggest benefit, of course, is that wind turbines don't generate the greenhouse gases that coal plants do, and they don't leave behind radioactive waste like nuclear power plants.
But apparently, there is some concern about wind-powered generators and health. When the windmills are spinning, they generate a sound, a vibration and a disruption in air pressure. It is theorized that the hum and vibration, called infrasound, travel thousands of kilometers and cause a variety of irritating symptoms in humans including:
From How Stuff Works:
- Headaches
- Sleep problems
- Night terrors or learning disabilities in children
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Mood problems (irritability, anxiety)
- Concentration and memory problems
- Issues with equilibrium, dizziness and nausea
A handful of scientists have studied and documented "wind turbine syndrome" on a few, small groups of people. These people have demonstrated some symptoms of wind turbine syndrome, but the scientific community hasn't come to a formal conclusion.
Furthermore, the symptoms of wind turbine syndrome are similar to the symptoms of chronic sleep loss. People living near wind turbines may be experiencing simple sleep loss instead of some complicated syndrome. The windmills are loud. That's a fact, but so are highways, and we all have to put up with those things.
I like the sleep-loss theory because it is simple and straightforward. Wind turbine syndrome seems a little far-fetched and may be just another excuse to keep coal power.
Coal factories produce tons of air pollution which can lead to lung cancer. Coal factories also pollute our environments with mercury, and let's not forget about that climate change thing that has the potential to destroy society as we know it.
If I had to choose between the two, I'd take wind power and a good set of ear plugs.
Source: How Stuff Works.
More on Health:
How Electric Cars and Hybrids Affect Your Health
Find A Cure for Athlete's Foot In Your Own Backyard
Be Wary of Sunscreen Claims: How to Find Sunscreen That Actually Protects You
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