Perception and annoyance due to wind turbine noise—a dose–response relationship

Abstract

Installed global wind power increased by 26% during 2003, with U.S and Europe accounting for 90% of the cumulative capacity. Little is known about wind turbines' impact on people living in their vicinity. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of annoyance due to wind turbine noise and to study dose-response relationships. Interrelationships between noise annoyance and sound characteristics, as well as the influence of subjective variables such as attitude and noise sensitivity, were also assessed. A cross-sectional study was performed in Sweden in 2000. Responses were obtained through questionnaires (n = 351; response rate 68.4%), and doses were calculated as A-weighted sound pressure levels for each respondent. A statistically significant dose-response relationship was found, showing higher proportion of people reporting perception and annoyance than expected from the present dose-response relationships for transportation noise. The unexpected high proportion of annoyance could be due to visual interference, influencing noise annoyance, as well as the presence of intrusive sound characteristics. The respondents' attitude to the visual impact of wind turbines on the landscape scenery was found to influence noise annoyance.

Listening Test Comparing A-Weighted and C-Weighted Sound Pressure Level as Indicator of Wind Turbine Noise Annoyance

“…It could be that the increased annoyance of the residents is a consequence of a generally higher noise sensitivity of that group but such tendencies should be counteracted by the PNE procedure unless the pink noise is excepted from the increased noise sensitivity. Moreover, the residents group can not be considered representative for people in general living near turbines as the majority of the population exposed to wind turbine noise are not bothered [1,2].…”

“…However, plants of wind turbine often concern neighbors because of anticipated disturbance of the visual and acoustic environment. Among residents living close to wind turbines, their noise is typically a source of annoyance [1][2][3].…”

A discussion of wind turbine interaction and stall contributions to wind farm noise

“…These studies report complaints due to qualities referred to as "swishing", "thumping" or "throbbing" (among others), which often occur at the blade pass frequency (Oerlemans & Schepers 2009, Pedersen et al 2009, Pedersen & Persson Waye 2004, Persson Waye & Öhrström 2002, Van den Berg 2004. Characterisation of these noise qualities is hindered by the subjective and interchangeable use of the terms "throbbing", "swishing" and "thumping" in the literature.…”

Amplitude modulation of audible sounds by non-audible sounds: Understanding the effects of wind turbine noise

“…Some people living near low-frequency industrial noise have reported being annoyed by, among other symptoms, feelings of throbbing and rumbling sensations (Pedersen et al 2009;Pedersen & Waye 2004). Such reports may possibly be explained by amplitude modulation of audible sounds by low-frequency noise and infrasound.…”