The Influence of Infrasound Noise from Wind Turbines on EEG Signal Patterns in Humans

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to determine the eect of infrasound noise from wind turbines (up to 20 Hz) on the changes in the EEG signal patterns in humans. The experimental study was undertaken to investigate the eect of a 20 minutes long infrasound exposure on humans. The acoustic signal was recorded at a distance of 750 meters from the wind turbine and the frequency components above 20 Hz were then ltered out. Research work undertaken so far to investigate the impacts of wind turbine noise on humans would mostly rely on questionnaire tools and subjective assessment given by respondents. This study focuses on the eects of infrasound noise from wind turbines on variations of EEG signal patterns in an attempt to develop a more objective measure of the infrasound noise impacts. The experimenal study was conducted in a pressure cabin where the EEG procedure was performed. Analysis of the EEG signals reveals the changes between the EEG patterns registered during the three successive stages of the study.The results indicate some changes in EEG signal patterns registered under exposure to wind turbine noise. Moreover, the specic frequency ranges of the EEG signals are found to be altered.

International Symposium on Occupational Safety and Hygiene: Proceedings Book of the SHO2015

“…These impacts go hand in hand with changes in the respiratory and circulatory systems (slowing the pulse and breathing). Other effects include lower levels of adrenaline and free fatty acids (Engel, 2001;Kasprzak, 2014).…”

“…One of the factors impacting upon the inhabitants of roadside buildings is noise. Noise effects on humans has been described in scores of research papers (Damijan, 2003;Damijan et al, 2004Damijan et al, , 2010Damijan et al, , 2012Engel, 2001;Kasprzak, 2014;Kozela, 2007;Uzarczyk et al, 1998). The article shows findings of research on population exposures to noise.…”

Health Canada’s Wind Turbine Noise and Health Study—A Review Exploring Research Challenges, Methods, Limitations and Uncertainties of Some of the Findings

“…Since the Health Canada Study design of 2012, methods have evolved. Objective measurements have included the use of advanced methods and technologies such as: a time stratified, case-crossover design [85]; MRI technology to document changes of brain activity when exposed to infrasound from WT [86]; verification of the physiological impact by ECG (electrocardiogram) [20] and brain waves by electroencephalogram (EEG) associated with low frequency/infrasound [87]; and a double blind provocation case control pilot [88].…”

Scientific Ideas Included in the Concepts of Bioacoustics, Acoustic Ecology, Ecoacoustics, Soundscape Ecology, and Vibroacoustics

“…The methods applied in vibroacoustics like computer simulation that can be used to test or optimise the vibroacoustic characteristics of middle ear implants (Kelly, 2003), or examination of prototypes of machines and appliances (Baranski, Kozupa, 2014) are closely connected with improvement of quality of life and health of patients (Kasprzak, 2014) or workers. Simply, studies in contemporary science are interdisciplinary (Ryżak et al, 2016, Dąbrowski Dziurdź, 2015; it is continually more difficult to recognise them as belonging to one domain of science or carry them out effectively without any cooperation.…”