Pregnancy exposure to wind turbine noise and adverse birth outcomes: a nationwide cohort study

The influence of high-speed train's transient pressure change on the fetal growth of SD rats

This research aims to explore the influence of transient pressure fluctuation inside high-speed trains passing throught tunnels on the fetal growth of Sprague - Dawley (SD) rats. A pressure variation simulation system was designed and exposure experiments were performed on SD rats. Forty-eight SD rats are divided into two control groups and two experimental groups, and are then exposed to transient pressure alternation (-1200 Pa ~1200 Pa) from gestation day 0 to gestation day 5 (GD 0-5). Fetal growth and development indicators on GD12 and GD18 between experimental and control groups were compared. Statistical results showed that, compared to the control group, the key indicators in the experimental group, including placental weight, placental diameter, fetal weight, and crown-to-rump length have decreased by 4.77%, 3.38%, 6.20%, and 3.75% respectively on GD18. The findings imply that the pressure fluctuation environment of high-speed trains has potential effects on the fetal growth of SD rats.

The Effect of Nonstress Device Noise Level on Stress Parameters in Primigravid Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

This study evaluated the effect of the noise level of the nonstress test (NST) device on stress parameters in primigravid women.

METHODS

A total of 44 pregnant women participated in a randomized clinical trial between February and October, 2021. The participants were divided randomly into 4 equal groups using an automated web-based randomization system and ensuring allocation concealment: the control group (NST device volume turned off), intervention group I (1-35 dB(A)), intervention group II (36-60 dB(A)), and intervention group III (61 dB(A) and above). A data collection form was used to record personal information and stress parameters. Stress parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation [SpO2], blood glucose, salivary cortisol, and salivary adrenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH]) levels were measured pretest (0-2 minutes before NST starts), midtest (at 10 minutes of the NST), and posttest (within 0-2 minutes after NST was finished). The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT05488704).

RESULTS

NST sound levels above 35 dB(A) increased the average cortisol and ACTH levels in the posttest. NST sound levels were positively correlated with posttest cortisol (r = .448) and posttest glucose (r = .302). There was interaction effect on heart rate, glucose, and cortisol level by time, indicating that the intervention groups experienced a significant acceleration in heart rate, glucose, and cortisol level after a noise intervention compared with the control group.

DISCUSSION

Midwives should continue applying NST below 36 dB(A), considering the factors that may induce stress during the NST process.

Association between noise exposure during pregnancy and pregnancy complications: A meta-analysis

Background

Noise exposure has a significant impact on human health. However, the effect of occupational and residential noise on the risk of pregnancy complications was controversial in the literature. This study looked at previous research and performed a meta-analysis to determine how noise exposure during pregnancy affected the risk of pregnancy complications.

Methods

Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Ovid, and Cochrane, and all relevant studies were included. Two investigators independently evaluated the eligibility of these studies. The risk of bias in each study and the quality and strength of each outcome was evaluated by using the GRADE approach and Navigation Guide. Random effects meta-analysis model was used.

Results

The meta-analysis retrieved 1,461 study records and finally included 11 studies. Occupational noise exposure during pregnancy was associated with preeclampsia (RR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.10). Neither occupational nor residential noise exposure was associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) (RR = 1.10, 95%CI: 0.96, 1.25 and RR = 1.05, 95%CI: 0.98, 1.11) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (RR = 0.94, 95%CI: 0.88, 1.00 and RR = 1.06, 95%CI: 0.98, 1.16). Further bias analysis showed that the results were reliable. All outcomes were rated as low in quality and inadequate evidence of harmfulness in strength.

Conclusions

Occupational noise exposure could increase the risk of preeclampsia, according to the findings. There was no clear evidence of a harmful effect of noise exposure during pregnancy on HDP or GDM.

[Wind turbine and infrasound: No evidence for health-related impairment - a physical, medical and social report]

Based on the recent discussion about health impacts of wind turbine noise and infrasound emissions, we present the physical facts and summarize related studies in a narrative review. We are exposed to infrasound emissions from different sources, where wind turbine farms do not cause particularly high infrasound emissions. Epidemiological studies found no association between wind turbine farms and the incidence of diabetes mellitus, heart attacks, strokes and medication with antihypertensive drugs, but a more frequent prescription of sleep medication. In contrast, key indicators of objective sleep outcomes are not impacted by wind turbine noise. Health complaints are more frequently proven, if anti-wind-turbine-groups were active, which is consistent with the psychogenic hypotheses with nocebo effects likely play an important role. Without evidence of health impacts from wind turbine farms, an ongoing slowdown in the urgently needed expansion of renewable energies is not justifiable.

Health Effects Related to Wind Turbine Sound: An Update

Commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, an update of an earlier narrative review was prepared for the literature published between 2017 and mid-2020 about the effects of wind turbine sound on the health of local residents. Specific attention was hereby given to the health effects of low-frequency sound and infrasound. The Netherlands Institute for Public Health and the Environment and Mundonovo sound research collected the scientific literature on the effect of wind turbines on annoyance, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic effects, as well as mental and cognitive impacts. It also investigated what is known about annoyance from visual aspects of wind turbines and other non-acoustic factors, such as the local decision-making process. From the literature study, annoyance again came forward as the most important consequence of sound: the louder the sound (in dB) of wind turbines, the stronger the annoyance response was. The literature did not show that "low-frequency sound" (sound with a low pitch) results in extra annoyance on top of normal sound. Results of scientific research for other health effects are either not available or inconsistent, and we can conclude that a clear association with wind turbine related sound levels cannot be confirmed. There is evidence that long-term effects are related to the annoyance people experience. These results confirm earlier conclusions. There is increasing evidence that annoyance is lower when people can participate in the siting process. Worries of residents should be addressed in an early stage, by involving them in the process of planning and decision making.

Self-reported health in the vicinity of five wind power production areas in Finland

In many countries, some people living in the vicinity of wind power production areas report having symptoms that they intuitively associate with wind turbines. Recently public discussions have focused especially on wind turbine infrasound. However, scientific evidence supporting an association is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the association between exposure to wind turbines and the prevalence of self-reported symptoms, diseases and medications. A cross-sectional questionnaire study (n = 2,828) was conducted in the vicinity of five wind power production areas in Finland in 2015-2016. Each area had 3-16 turbines with a nominal power of 2.4-3.3 MW. The response rate was 50% (n = 1,411). Continuous and categorised (≤ 2.5, > 2.5-5, > 5-10 km) distance between the respondents' home and the closest wind turbine was used to represent exposure to wind turbines. Wind turbine sound pressure level outdoors could be reliably modelled only for the closest distance zone where the yearly average was 34 dB and maximum 43 dB. The data on symptoms (headache, nausea, dizziness, tinnitus, ear fullness, arrhythmia, fatigue, difficulties in falling asleep, waking up too early, anxiety, stress), diseases (hypertension, heart insufficiency, diabetes), and medications (analgesics for headache, joint/muscle pain and other pain, and medication for sleep disturbance, anxiety and depression, and hypertension) was obtained from the questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were adjusted for age, sex, marital status, education, work situation, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, body mass index, and hearing problems. Annoyance and sleep disturbance due to wind turbine noise were inversely associated with the distance to the closest wind turbine. The prevalence of symptoms, diseases and medications was essentially the same in all distance categories. In multivariate regression modelling, the odds ratio estimates were generally close to unity and statistically non-significant. Beyond annoyance and sleep disturbance, there were no consistent associations between exposure to wind turbines and self-reported health problems. The results do not support the hypothesis that broadband sound or infrasound from wind turbines could cause the proposed health problems.

EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT IN THE VICINITY OF WIND TURBINES

BACKGROUND

There is an exponential growth of public concern worldwide regarding the exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by wind turbines. The high concern of the general population enhances the fact that EMF exposure remains a crucial issue that demands specific actions and reliable data to evaluate possible health hazards.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

EMF exposure measurements were conducted in two wind farm (W/F) areas in Greece. The magnetic field strength concentrated in the proximity of 22 wind turbines (20 type of Gamesa Eolica Siemens of total power of 17 MW and 2 type of E53 Enercon, 800 KW each). Measurements were conducted using a Narda-NBM-550 basic unit (Narda Safety Test Solutions Company) using EHP-50F probe. The EMF exposure measurements were processed applying the weighted peak method (WPM), according to the 2013/35/EU Directive. WPM provides correction of the measured value of pulse signals, taking into account the phases of the various frequency components. The data were classified under two scenarios of EMF exposure: 'high wind' and 'low wind' conditions.

RESULTS

The variation of the magnetic field strength was calculated between 1.13 and 1.42% (WPM). Measurements indicate that the intensity of the emitted magnetic field at the base of the wind turbines, in both high and low wind conditions, was relatively low (mean = 0.146 μT), while decreasing rapidly with increasing distance and reaching background values 6 m from the base.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study indicate that EMF levels are similar or even lower compared to those in urban areas and well below the national and international safety limits.

Evidence for Environmental Noise Effects on Health for the United Kingdom Policy Context: A Systematic Review of the Effects of Environmental Noise on Mental Health, Wellbeing, Quality of Life, Cancer, Dementia, Birth, Reproductive Outcomes, and Cognition

This systematic review commissioned by the UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), considers how the evidence base for noise effects on health has changed following the recent reviews undertaken for the WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines. This systematic review assesses the quality of the evidence for environmental noise effects on mental health, wellbeing, and quality of life; birth and reproductive outcomes; and cognition for papers published since the WHO reviews (mid-2015 to March 2019), as well as for cancer and dementia (January 2014 to March 2019). Using the GRADE methodology (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) most evidence was rated as low quality as opposed to very low quality in the previous reviews. There is now low-quality evidence for a harmful effect of road traffic noise on medication use and interview measures of depression and anxiety and low quality evidence for a harmful effect of road traffic noise, aircraft noise, and railway noise on some cancer outcomes. Many other conclusions from the WHO evidence reviews remain unchanged. The conclusions remain limited by the low number of studies for many outcomes. The quantification of health effects for other noise sources including wind turbine, neighbour, industrial, and combined noise remains a research priority.