Infrasound from Wind Turbines Could Affect Humans

Autor/inn/en	Salt, Alec N.; Kaltenbach, James A.
Titel	Infrasound from Wind Turbines Could Affect Humans
Quelle	In: Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, 31 (2011) 4, S.296-302 (7 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0270-4676
DOI	10.1177/0270467611412555
Schlagwörter	Energy; Power Technology; Acoustics; Human Body; Hearing (Physiology); Measurement; Environmental Influences + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Energie; Antriebstechnik; Akustik; Menschlicher Körper; Gehör; Hören; Messverfahren; Environmental influence; Umwelteinfluss
Abstract	Wind turbines generate low-frequency sounds that affect the ear. The ear is superficially similar to a microphone, converting mechanical sound waves into electrical signals, but does this by complex physiologic processes. Serious misconceptions about low-frequency sound and the ear have resulted from a failure to consider in detail how the ear works. Although the cells that provide hearing are insensitive to infrasound, other sensory cells in the ear are much more sensitive, which can be demonstrated by electrical recordings. Responses to infrasound reach the brain through pathways that do not involve conscious hearing but instead may produce sensations of fullness, pressure or tinnitus, or have no sensation. Activation of subconscious pathways by infrasound could disturb sleep. Based on our current knowledge of how the ear works, it is quite possible that low-frequency sounds at the levels generated by wind turbines could affect those living nearby. (Contains 4 figures.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10