A conference titled Unheard but Not Harmless: Public Health and Wind Energy Infrasound took place today at the European Parliament, hosted by MEP Fernand Kartheiser.
The event brought together scientists, legal experts and industry representatives to discuss the potential health and environmental impacts of wind turbines, a subject that continues to divide opinion across Europe.
At the centre of the debate was infrasound, defined as sound below 20 Hz. While it is generally inaudible to most people, several speakers stressed that this does not mean it is harmless.
Professor Ken Mattsson of Uppsala University in Sweden questioned the way infrasound is currently measured, arguing that the commonly used dBa scale does not adequately account for low-frequency noise.
The dBa scale is the standard unit for environmental, industrial, and hearing-damage assessments, focusing on frequencies between 2kHz and 5 kHz.
He also pointed out that infrasound levels can be higher at night, when atmospheric conditions allow it to travel further and penetrate indoor spaces more easily.
According to him, this can contribute to sleep disturbances, migraines and general discomfort. “You don’t have to hear it to be affected,” he noted, adding that man-made infrasound differs from natural sources such as wind or ocean waves because it lacks harmony, making it more disturbing.
Dr Ursula Maria Bellut-Staeck of the Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Canada, presented research on environmental stressors and their effects on the human body.
She said prolonged exposure to low-frequency noise and infrasound can lead to headaches, migraines and difficulty concentrating, and may affect cardiovascular and immune systems.
She also raised concerns about potential impacts on child development and biodiversity, calling for an immediate moratorium on new wind turbine projects.
The legal dimension was addressed by Dutch lawyer Morvan Le Berre who referred to a 2021 petition initiated by Patrice d’Oultremont, President at Belgian disability services and support organisation Les ateliers de Blicquy asking the European Commission to acknowledge these issues.
Although no resolution was adopted, the petition remains open. As MEP Virginie Joron stated, the matter “shouldn’t be political as it affects all of us”, insisting on the need to continue gathering data and encouraging European Union member states to act.
From the industry side, Guy Willems of WindEurope defended the role of wind energy in Europe’s energy mix. The sector currently provides around 20 per cent of the EU’s electricity and supports around 400,000 jobs.
Speaking to Brussels Signal today, he said no research has established a link between wind turbines and health problems, adding that modern turbines are designed to reduce noise and that distance regulations should be handled at national level.
Mattsson offered a more cautious view when talking to Brussels Signal today, suggesting the lack of evidence may be linked to inadequate measurement tools, noting industry actors have little incentive to highlight negative effects.
With around 50,000 wind turbines now operating across Europe and increasing in size and power, the conference highlighted an ongoing tension between the push for energy independence and the need to better understand potential health impacts.
In the end, responsibility remains with member states, which hold the final say on wind energy development.
