Health effects related to wind turbine sound – a rapid evidence review covering 2020-2024

Wind energy plays an important role in the delivery of net zero and energy security commitments, and globally wind additions are forecast to more than double by 2028 compared with 2022. Permitting frameworks have been identified as a key barrier to growth of onshore wind, and the health effects of wind turbine sound emissions remain a primary concern to local communities. Evidence reviews published in 2017 and 2020-21 concluded that the health effects literature is increasing, but there are still gaps, especially for health endpoints other than annoyance, and how non-acoustic factors can moderate and/or mediate self-reported health outcomes. We carried out a rapid evidence review covering the period July 2020 to February 2024 to determine if newer evidence is addressing these gaps. Of the 22 studies about health effects, most focused on self-reported health, annoyance, and sleep disturbance. Studies about other health effects remains limited. Studies on “social acceptance” (n=10) continue to show the importance of non-acoustic factors, such as attitudes and personal characteristics are in impacting outcomes. No intervention studies were identified. Due to variations in study design, exposure and outcome measures, and how non-acoustic factors are characterised, it remains challenging to make generalised recommendations to mitigate health impacts.