In March 2025, a peer-reviewed study out of Poland (published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications) added new evidence to an ongoing debate: does wind turbine noise actually harm human health? The researchers tested 45 student volunteers in a double-blind experiment, exposing them to wind turbine noise, road traffic noise, and silence. Using EEG monitoring and cognitive tests, they found no measurable differences in stress, attention, or reasoning ability among the three groups.
The participants themselves couldn’t even identify the turbine noise. Many described it simply as “white noise,” according to the study’s authors. This result aligns with more than two decades of systematic reviews showing no causal link between wind turbine noise and physical or mental health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or cognitive decline.
So, if the science seems clear, why does “wind turbine syndrome” continue to generate headlines and concern?
What Decades of Studies Have Already Told Us
Health agencies around the world—including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council—have been reviewing this question since the early 2000s. More than 25 comprehensive literature reviews have reached the same conclusion: there’s no evidence that wind turbine noise directly causes disease.
There are, however, documented cases of annoyance and sleep disturbance among people living near wind farms. But researchers point out that these effects are not unique to turbines; traffic, industrial operations, and even loud neighbors can cause similar outcomes. Studies also suggest that people who hold negative views about turbines are more likely to report symptoms, regardless of the actual sound levels.
One 2013 analysis in Health Psychology highlighted a strong nocebo effect—where simply believing that a noise source is harmful can produce real physical symptoms. This context is critical for understanding why some communities report higher rates of discomfort than others, even under similar noise conditions.
What About Infrasound?
A frequent point of concern is infrasound—sound frequencies too low for humans to consciously hear. Some argue that even imperceptible levels could disrupt sleep or cause chronic health issues. But controlled experiments tell a different story.
For example, a 2023 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives simulated 72 hours of infrasound exposure from wind turbines and found no significant impact on sleep quality, headaches, nausea, or heart-rate variability compared with a placebo group. Similar results have been replicated in Canada, Australia, and the U.S., reinforcing that infrasound levels from modern turbines are far below thresholds known to affect humans.
Although the scientific consensus is strong, public perception hasn’t caught up. That’s partly because wind turbines are visible symbols of change. Communities hosting wind farms often feel they’ve had little say in the process, and that frustration can manifest as health concerns.