Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697631045067.pdf (Australia)
Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study • 28 turbines, 389 ft tall • Online Dec 06, Complete Mar 07 • ~30 adults, ~15 children live within 3500 feet (1km) within ~18 homes.
Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill, Maine Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 Cross Sectional Controlled Study Attempt made to capture all adults on the three roads – drastically reduces sampling bias Subjects and controls approached by investigator – essentially all agreed – very low self selection bias Controls well matched by age and sex Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 Initiated after media reports of complaints and no government investigation Pilot Study – not meant to evaluate full dose response (distance versus symptoms mapping), but to assess for relative risks of sleep disturbance and health complaints Goal: Collect preliminary data for Maine Medical Association.
Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects – Preliminary Findings Population Sample - Demographics • 22 subjects interviewed.

10 female, 12 male.

• Subjects: Distance to nearest turbine ranges 1200 – 3400 ft; Mean distance 2500 feet • 27 controls interviewed.

12 female, 13 male.

• Controls: Average distance 15,000-16,000 feet.
AGE AND SEX MATCHED Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects – Pilot Study Subjects and Controls: Sex, Age, Distance F F F F F F F F F F 67 62 65 73 66 38 41 49 41 18 3400 2400 2500 3000 3200 1200 2300 2500 1500 1500 M M M M M M M M M M M M 65 77 75 74 52 50 51 47 58 79 56 43 3400 2400 3000 3200 1200 2100 2400 2300 2400 1500 1200 1500 F F F F F F F F F F F F F 31 50 33 63 28 40 77 64 73 70 19 81 56 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 M M M M M M M M M M M M M M 65 60 61 40 57 40 47 39 74 81 33 47 55 43 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 ~15,000 Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 Troubled by Shadow Flicker Exposed # 22 Non Exposed # 27 symptom Number Percentage Number Percentage 2 Nausea Dizziness 4* Trigger Migraine Unease 1 2 new Total # Affected 0 7 9% 18% 5% 9% 0 32% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 *2 subjects had dizziness AND nausea Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 Unintentional Weight Change Exposed # 22 Non Exposed # 27 symptom Number Percentage Number Percentage 6 Increase Decrease 2 0 new 8 Total # Affected 27% 9% 0 36% 0 1 0 1 0 4% 0 4% Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 New or worsened Headaches Exposed # 22 Non Exposed # 27 symptom Number Percentage Number Percentage 7 New Worse 0 migraine 2 2 New 1 3 9 Total Total # Affected 32% 0 9% 9% 9% 14% 41% 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 0 4% 0 0 0 0% 4% New or worsened Auditory/Vestibular Exposed # 22 Non Exposed # 27 symptom Number Percentage Number Percentage Dizziness 3 Tinnitus 3 Ear Pain 1 Ear Pulse 3 new Total # Affected 0 9 14% 14% 5% 14% 0 41% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 New or worsened Sleep Disturbance Exposed # 22 CONTROLS # 27 Symptom Number Percentage Number Percentage 10 Falling Asleep Waking 17 1-2/wk 3-4/wk 4 5 5-7/wk New Total # Affected 9 5 18 45% 77% 18% 23% 41% 23% 82% 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 0% 4% Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 New or worsened Psychiatric Symptoms Exposed # 22 Non Exposed # 27 symptom Number Percentage Number Percentage stress anger anxiety irritability 13 17 7 6 hopelessness 12 10 8 2 Depression new worsened New or 4 59% 77% 32% 27% 55% 45% 36 9 18% Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Prescription Medication Use Exposed # 22 Non Exposed # 27 symptom Number Number Accepted new Total New Or 12 3 15 4 0 4 15 New or increased prescriptions (12 people) 11 additional prescriptions offered and declined in subject group Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 Types of Medications Subjects: Controls Antihypertensives: 3 Antiarthritic 1 Lexapro Zoloft Meloxicam Tylenol III Cymbalta Mirtazepine Trazodone Hydrocodone Topamax Anxiolytics (2) BP meds (3) Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 Quality of Life Perception Exposed # 22 Non Exposed # 27 symptom Number Percentage Number Percentage Increased Decreased Considered moving away 0 21 19 0 95% 86% 0 0 0 0 0 0 Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 Quality of Life Perception “No desire to go outside” “Feel trapped” “Dreams have been dashed” “Was our dream home .
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it’s all been stolen from us” “My husband’s (who has MS) only pleasure in life was to see the wild animals.

They are gone.” “Sinking feeling every night when I (come home) and see them.” Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 Anger “ Absolute rage – you feel you want to kill someone, and don’t know who to kill ” (67 y.o.

woman) “ So angry I could kill “ (65 y.o.

man) “ Makes my blood boil ” (65 y.o.


woman) Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 Hopelessness “ Nobody will help us ” “ This is an awful thing to have happen to you ” “ People don’t believe us – (complaints) fall on deaf ears ” “ No one cares.
No one listens.” “ They just tread on us.” Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 “Daddy, I’m going to sleep at the hotel with Mom.” Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010 Mars Hill ME DEP Nightime Noise Variance 45=>50 dbA “There are 4 protected locations were the noise level would be above 45 dBA, but less than 50 dBA, which is approximately equivalent to the noise that songbirds make .

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the Department finds that the applicants’ project will not have an unreasonable adverse impact .

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and therefore grants a variance from the noise standards for the windpower farm.” Michael A. Nissenbaum, MD, 2010 Mars Hill Wind Turbine Project Health Effects –Pilot Study 2010