“Infrasound” is sound that has a frequency which is so low that you cannot hear it audibly with your ear. It is sometimes referred to simply as “low frequency noise”, or incorrectly as “sub-sonic” noise, but the term “subsonic” more correctly REFERS to speed, not audible noise.

Infrasound is given off by vehicles moving along roads, by doors closing, by STANDING objects such as trees and buildings when wind blows past them, or by many types of animals (eg: whales calling through the ocean or elephants communicating across the plains), and by wind turbines. The levels of low frequency noise emitted by any of these (traffic, trees, animals, wind turbines) is measureable: wind turbines emit at a level similar to that given off by trees at similar distances, so wind turbines are no more dangerous than trees as an infrasound emitter. Most homes have trees and roads closer to them than the minimum wind turbine setback of 550m, and the infrasound generated in these closer proximities is stronger than you will ever experience from a wind turbine 550m AWAY. Further still, infrasound is approved for use in therapeutic massage at levels that exceed those produced by typical wind turbines.

Concerns have been expressed in the past about some older style industrial machinery (picture big engines that rumble when they run) which used to make low-frequency noise. Employees working with heavy machinery that continually emits low-frequency noise may (over time) experience undesirable health impacts from the noise exposure, such as hearing loss for example. Wind turbines are essentially a generator that is forced to turn by the wind, and generators are essentially motors forced to run backwards: older wind turbine technology (~30 years ago) used older motor technology that in some select cases was LATER found to emit low-frequency noise. These cases were relatively rare, but have since been corrected regardless, and wind turbines have not been known to emit any significant levels of low-frequency noise for over a decade now. The only infra-sound that you will likely ever be exposed to in your lifetime is the same as that emitted

by trees, traffic, animals, and doors closing near you. Many stereo amplifiers and surround-sound home theatre systems even emit low-frequency noise, and our kids call it “bass”.

Infrasound from wind turbines is not a concern. If it was, then roads, trees and doors would be a health concern too.

“Infrasound” is sound that has a frequency which is so low that you cannot hear it audibly with your ear. It is sometimes referred to simply as “low frequency noise”, or incorrectly as “sub-sonic” noise, but the term “subsonic” more correctly refers to speed, not audible noise.

Infrasound is given off by vehicles moving along roads, by doors closing, by standing objects such as trees and buildings when wind blows past them, or by many types of animals (eg: whales calling through the ocean or elephants communicating across the plains), and by wind turbines. The levels of low frequency noise emitted by any of these (traffic, trees, animals, wind turbines) is measureable: wind turbines emit at a level similar to that given off by trees at similar distances, so wind turbines are no more dangerous than trees as an infrasound emitter. Most homes have trees and roads closer to them than the minimum wind turbine setback of 550m, and the infrasound generated in these closer proximities is stronger than you will ever experience from a wind turbine 550m away. Further still, infrasound is approved for use in therapeutic massage at levels that exceed those produced by typical wind turbines.

Concerns have been expressed in the past about some older style industrial machinery (picture big engines that rumble when they run) which used to make low-frequency noise. Employees working with heavy machinery that continually emits low-frequency noise may (over time) experience undesirable health impacts from the noise exposure, such as hearing loss for example. Wind turbines are essentially a generator that is forced to turn by the wind, and generators are essentially motors forced to run backwards: older wind turbine technology (~30 years ago) used older motor technology that in some select cases was later found to emit low-frequency noise. These cases were relatively rare, but have since been corrected regardless, and wind turbines have not been known to emit any significant levels of low-frequency noise for over a decade now. The only infra-sound that you will likely ever be exposed to in your lifetime is the same as that emitted

by trees, traffic, animals, and doors closing near you. Many stereo amplifiers and surround-sound home theatre systems even emit low-frequency noise, and our kids call it “bass”.

Infrasound from wind turbines is not a concern. If it was, then roads, trees and doors would be a health concern too.