Response to wind turbine noise in the Netherlands

Abstract

A cross-sectional study with the objective to explore the impact of wind turbine noise on people living in the vicinity of wind farms was carried out in the Netherlands in 2006. A postal questionnaire assessing response to environmental exposures in the living area, including wind turbine noise, was answered by 725 respondents (response rate: 37%). Immission levels of wind turbine noise outside the dwelling of each respondent were calculated in accordance with ISO-9613. The risk for being annoyed by wind turbine noise outdoors increased with increasing sound levels (rs = 0.501, n = 708, p<0.001). The risk for annoyance was decreased for respondents who could not see wind turbines from their dwelling and for respondents who benefited economically from the turbines. No statistically significant correlations between immission levels of wind turbine noise and health or well-being were found. However, noise annoyance due to wind turbine noise was associated with stress symptoms, psychological distress and lowered sleep quality.