Wind Turbins and brain issues

MG1962 · 25th July 2011, 06:26 PM

In Australia there has been a blow up over potential medical issues surrounding wind farms..

http://www.news.com.au/features/envi...-1226101792455

The part that has me wondering is the following claim

He said his home sits in an amphitheatre - a bowl-shaped valley between two hills - which funnels the noise from the turbines towards his house.

His doctor diagnosed him with electromagnetic spasms in his skull

What the hell is an electromagnetic spasm of the skull?

AlBell · 25th July 2011, 06:31 PM

I thought this thread was about beanies with a propeller on top.

Oh. You meant turbines?

madurobob · 25th July 2011, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by MG1962

What the hell is an electromagnetic spasm of the skull?

A good name for a rock band?

I too have heard of some folks claiming odd medical problems they claim are the result of recent wind farm installations. I'd be interested to hear what the folks here make of this Australian claim.

Furcifer · 25th July 2011, 06:54 PM

The same thing happened here. It's BS. EMF from the turbines is lower than just about everything else you routinely encounter.

Long story short, people who rent their land for the ~$5000 a year plus free hydro are immune and it only affects the neighbors who weren't so lucky.

Floyt · 25th July 2011, 11:08 PM

"Electromagnetic spasms in his skull" my aunt banana. If he can get epileptic seizures by micro-voltage induction at a distance, I want him on retainer here at my lab - he'll likely come cheaper than all the knockout mice we take so much trouble to breed. At least the infrasound allegation is theoretically plausible (if equally unproven).

macdoc · 25th July 2011, 11:22 PM

Pure bunkum.....

However subsonics from the blades can cause all sorts of issues and could be amplified in a bowl.

But EM ?? fugedaboudit.

Susheel · 25th July 2011, 11:39 PM

I was thinking of that low hum that one sometimes gets (from faulty electrical equipment or even something as simple as a breeze blowing in a peculiar way through a house). In my case it was a faulty circuitry in a calling bell (old style in which a hammer powered by electromagnets pounded against two metal plates) that created the constant low hum. Gave me headaches and went on to become nausea.

Went to a doctor who said I was in perfect health, but should quit smoking. Finally traced the root of the hum, got rid of it and after a night of quiet rest found myself much better the next day. One good thing to come out of it was that I quit smoking and also learned something interesting.

Could something similar be the case here. Is that what subsonic resonance means? Wouldn't subsonic imply below auditory levels. I definitely heard the low hum.

stevea · 26th July 2011, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by MG1962

What the hell is an electromagnetic spasm of the skull?

Dunno, but I bet you can prevent it by wearing a tin-foil cap (shiny side out).

Greedo · 26th July 2011, 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by madurobob

A good name for a rock band?

I too have heard of some folks claiming odd medical problems they claim are the result of recent wind farm installations. I'd be interested to hear what the folks here make of this Australian claim.

It's probably total bull. I live in northern Germany, there's hundreds of windmills whererver I look. Then again, I suffer from chronic migr... electromagnetic spasms in the skull

I remember a case here in Germany where the German Telekom put up a large antenna of sorts in a village and soon after, people started complaining of headaches and what have you. Only to be told that the antenna wasn't even activated yet

Aepervius · 26th July 2011, 01:25 AM

Originally Posted by Greedo

It's probably total bull. I live in northern Germany, there's hundreds of windmills whererver I look. Then again, I suffer from chronic migr... electromagnetic spasms in the skull

I remember a case here in Germany where the German Telekom put up a large antenna of sorts in a village and soon after, people started complaining of headaches and what have you. Only to be told that the antenna wasn't even activated yet

My poor understanding was that it was standard operating procedure to leave them un-connected for a few week, for a variety of reason, one among them to curtail such protest ? I might be wrong though.

lionking · 26th July 2011, 01:35 AM

I saw the Four Corners show about this. Amazing how people actually living on the wind farms suffer no ill effects at all. As one of the medicos non the show suggested, confirmation bias at it's best.

madurobob · 26th July 2011, 05:43 AM

I've never been on a wind farm, whats it sound like and how loud? I drove by one in Spain several years ago and stopped to look, but heard nothing. But, it was on a hill about 1/4 mile away.

I live in a rural area where most of the ambient sound is birds and bugs and coyotes and such - the regular cacophony of nature. This Spring the 13 year cicadas made a massive appearance on my property and for about a month all that could be heard all day every day was the loud burglar-alarm like sound that seemed to come from all directions at once. It was cute at first, but became maddening after a few weeks. Part of what made it ultimately acceptable was that it was natural, would go away soon, and wouldn't be back for many years.

I can imagine if a wind farm were installed nearby that made a non-stop background noise that it could eventually lead to a bit of stress (migraines, indigestion, etc...) in some people (me). But, is the sound from a wind farm really powerful enough to be heard from 1/4 mile away or more?

Not that this has anything to do with electromagnetic spasms in the skull (though I've heard descriptions of migraines that sort of match that description if you ignore the fact that this would be a pretty easy thing to test for).

Travis · 26th July 2011, 08:23 AM

Better that than those gravitational spasms in the pelvis.

25th July 2011, 06:26 PM	#1
MG1962 Guest Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kansas (Australia) Posts: 14,750	Wind Turbins and brain issues In Australia there has been a blow up over potential medical issues surrounding wind farms.. http://www.news.com.au/features/envi...-1226101792455 The part that has me wondering is the following claim He said his home sits in an amphitheatre - a bowl-shaped valley between two hills - which funnels the noise from the turbines towards his house. His doctor diagnosed him with electromagnetic spasms in his skull What the hell is an electromagnetic spasm of the skull?
	Last edited by MG1962; 25th July 2011 at 06:28 PM.

25th July 2011, 06:31 PM	#2
AlBell Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,492	I thought this thread was about beanies with a propeller on top. Oh. You meant turbines?
AlBell Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,492

25th July 2011, 06:31 PM	#3
madurobob Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Blue Heaven, NC Posts: 5,528	Originally Posted by MG1962 What the hell is an electromagnetic spasm of the skull? A good name for a rock band? I too have heard of some folks claiming odd medical problems they claim are the result of recent wind farm installations. I'd be interested to hear what the folks here make of this Australian claim.
	__________________ Insert witty phrase or out of context post by another member here.

25th July 2011, 11:08 PM	#5
Floyt Chordate Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cape Town! Not mugged yet. Looking for chameleons. Posts: 1,425	"Electromagnetic spasms in his skull" my aunt banana. If he can get epileptic seizures by micro-voltage induction at a distance, I want him on retainer here at my lab - he'll likely come cheaper than all the knockout mice we take so much trouble to breed. At least the infrasound allegation is theoretically plausible (if equally unproven).
	__________________ They had no god; they had no gods; they had no faith. What they appear to have had is a working metaphor. - Ursula K. Le Guin, "Always Coming Home"

25th July 2011, 11:22 PM	#6
macdoc Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Planet earth on slow boil Posts: 4,601	Pure bunkum..... However subsonics from the blades can cause all sorts of issues and could be amplified in a bowl. But EM ?? fugedaboudit.
	__________________ Mainstream climate science sources others have found useful. http://www.macmagic.ca/ubbthreads.ph...5753#Post45753 Nature Reports Climate Change Copenhagen Climate Change Synthesis Report 2009

25th July 2011, 06:54 PM	#4
Furcifer miscreant Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: hohm Posts: 13,379	The same thing happened here. It's BS. EMF from the turbines is lower than just about everything else you routinely encounter. Long story short, people who rent their land for the ~$5000 a year plus free hydro are immune and it only affects the neighbors who weren't so lucky.

25th July 2011, 11:39 PM	#7
Susheel Muse Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 525	I was thinking of that low hum that one sometimes gets (from faulty electrical equipment or even something as simple as a breeze blowing in a peculiar way through a house). In my case it was a faulty circuitry in a calling bell (old style in which a hammer powered by electromagnets pounded against two metal plates) that created the constant low hum. Gave me headaches and went on to become nausea. Went to a doctor who said I was in perfect health, but should quit smoking. Finally traced the root of the hum, got rid of it and after a night of quiet rest found myself much better the next day. One good thing to come out of it was that I quit smoking and also learned something interesting. Could something similar be the case here. Is that what subsonic resonance means? Wouldn't subsonic imply below auditory levels. I definitely heard the low hum.
Susheel Muse Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 525	__________________ I've got to get to a library...fast Robert Langdon

26th July 2011, 12:13 AM	#8
stevea Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,121	Originally Posted by MG1962 What the hell is an electromagnetic spasm of the skull? Dunno, but I bet you can prevent it by wearing a tin-foil cap (shiny side out).
stevea Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,121

26th July 2011, 12:17 AM	#9
Greedo Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,570	Originally Posted by madurobob A good name for a rock band? I too have heard of some folks claiming odd medical problems they claim are the result of recent wind farm installations. I'd be interested to hear what the folks here make of this Australian claim. It's probably total bull. I live in northern Germany, there's hundreds of windmills whererver I look. Then again, I suffer from chronic migr... electromagnetic spasms in the skull I remember a case here in Germany where the German Telekom put up a large antenna of sorts in a village and soon after, people started complaining of headaches and what have you. Only to be told that the antenna wasn't even activated yet
Greedo Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,570	__________________ "Persuade thyself that imperfection and inconvenience are the natural lot of mortals and there will be no room for discontent, neither for despair." -T.I.

26th July 2011, 01:25 AM	#10
Aepervius Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bierland. I mean , germany. Posts: 7,752	Originally Posted by Greedo It's probably total bull. I live in northern Germany, there's hundreds of windmills whererver I look. Then again, I suffer from chronic migr... electromagnetic spasms in the skull I remember a case here in Germany where the German Telekom put up a large antenna of sorts in a village and soon after, people started complaining of headaches and what have you. Only to be told that the antenna wasn't even activated yet My poor understanding was that it was standard operating procedure to leave them un-connected for a few week, for a variety of reason, one among them to curtail such protest ? I might be wrong though.
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26th July 2011, 01:35 AM	#11
lionking In the Peanut Gallery Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 29,650	I saw the Four Corners show about this. Amazing how people actually living on the wind farms suffer no ill effects at all. As one of the medicos non the show suggested, confirmation bias at it's best.
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26th July 2011, 05:43 AM	#12
madurobob Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Blue Heaven, NC Posts: 5,528	I've never been on a wind farm, whats it sound like and how loud? I drove by one in Spain several years ago and stopped to look, but heard nothing. But, it was on a hill about 1/4 mile away. I live in a rural area where most of the ambient sound is birds and bugs and coyotes and such - the regular cacophony of nature. This Spring the 13 year cicadas made a massive appearance on my property and for about a month all that could be heard all day every day was the loud burglar-alarm like sound that seemed to come from all directions at once. It was cute at first, but became maddening after a few weeks. Part of what made it ultimately acceptable was that it was natural, would go away soon, and wouldn't be back for many years. I can imagine if a wind farm were installed nearby that made a non-stop background noise that it could eventually lead to a bit of stress (migraines, indigestion, etc...) in some people (me). But, is the sound from a wind farm really powerful enough to be heard from 1/4 mile away or more? Not that this has anything to do with electromagnetic spasms in the skull (though I've heard descriptions of migraines that sort of match that description if you ignore the fact that this would be a pretty easy thing to test for).
	__________________ Insert witty phrase or out of context post by another member here.

26th July 2011, 08:23 AM	#13
Travis Misanthrope of the Mountains Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tuolumne City, CA Posts: 17,938	Better that than those gravitational spasms in the pelvis.
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