The Hidden Health Risks of Wind Turbine Infra-sound
Wind turbines are emitting harmful infrasound at a distance of at least six miles (10Km). This disturbing scientific fact is ignored by both government agencies and the wind industry.
Ken Mattsson is a Swedish professor with a long career in scientific computing. Together with Gustav Eriksson they developed an infra-sound measuring system – SoundSim360 that is based on more than 25 years of research. The infrasound measurements are performed by José Chilo, Kourosh Tartar and Leif Persson.
While it is generally accepted that road traffic noise contributes to cardiovascular disease and losses in productivity, no-one is talking about noise from wind turbines. This is because sound power levels stated by manufacturers are one of the biggest lies – primarily because it is not a constant and sound emissions can vary by more than 20 dB higher during a day.
watch the video below:
Summary of Ken Matson’s Presentation on Infrasound from Wind Turbines
Ken Matson, a professor in scientific computing at Obsson University (referred to as Upsola University in the presentation), delivered a talk addressing the issue of infrasound emitted by wind turbines and its potential health impacts, which he argues is understudied and misrepresented by industry and authorities. Below is a concise summary of the key points:
- Concerns About Infrasound:
- Wind turbines emit significant levels of infrasound (sound below 20 Hz), which is inaudible but can be perceived and potentially harmful.
- Matson disputes industry claims that infrasound is harmless, citing personal experiences (e.g., migraines after measurements) and emerging research indicating health effects at levels below audible thresholds.
- Infrasound from wind turbines differs from natural infrasound (e.g., from volcanoes or storms) due to its pulsating nature, which may amplify its impact.
- Health and Environmental Impact:
- Infrasound can travel at least 10 km and affect people at distances of 5–10 km, as evidenced by animal studies showing avoidance behavior beyond 5 km.
- Measurements near modern, larger wind turbines (600 meters away) show high infrasound levels, which increase with turbine size, a fact Matson claims the industry downplays.
- Studies suggest infrasound levels between 80–95 dB can affect the brain, even if not consciously heard, and prolonged exposure may cause health issues like migraines.
- Measurement and Modeling Issues:
- Matson criticizes oversimplified industry models (e.g., Nord2000, Danish model) for underestimating infrasound and low-frequency sound propagation, especially at low frequencies (e.g., 1 Hz).
- His team developed a more accurate software, Sound360, based on 25 years of research, to simulate sound generation and propagation, accounting for atmospheric and ground effects.
- Measurements at wind farms (e.g., Moat with 27 turbines) show infrasound levels significantly higher (e.g., 99–128 dB at 1 Hz) than background noise (78 dB) or industry-reported values (e.g., 106 dB vs. measured 128 dB).
- Infrasound penetrates buildings easily, with higher indoor levels due to vibrations, complicating health impacts.
- Industry and Regulatory Shortcomings:
- Matson highlights the reluctance of industry and authorities (e.g., Swedish Environmental Protection Agency) to acknowledge research on infrasound’s health effects, citing outdated or non-scientific reports.
- Common metrics like dBA are inappropriate for infrasound, as they heavily weight low frequencies, masking true levels (e.g., 150 dB at 1 Hz reduced to 0 in dBA).
- He calls for comprehensive studies with long-term exposure, larger sample sizes (not just 30 people for 10 minutes), and inclusion of experts in neuroscience to assess impacts, particularly on migraine-sensitive individuals.
- Personal Motivation and Credibility:
- Matson emphasizes his expertise in acoustics, with a PhD from Upsola, experience at Stanford, NASA, and the Swedish Defense Research Agency, and 40 published papers on acoustic modeling.
- His work spans partial differential equations, acoustic wave equations, and simulations of various wave phenomena (e.g., tsunamis, gravity waves).
- His concerns are driven by empirical evidence and personal health effects experienced during measurements, not an ideological opposition to green energy.
- Recent Findings:
- Using calibrated equipment (e.g., Hyperion sensors), recent measurements (as of October 22, 2025) at 1.5 km from a wind farm with 60 turbines recorded 128 dB at 0.63 Hz, indicating even higher infrasound levels below 1 Hz, which require further validation.
- Call to Action:
- Matson urges sharing his findings with local politicians and authorities to raise awareness and push for rigorous, independent studies on infrasound’s health impacts.
- He stresses the need for accurate modeling, proper measurement techniques, and acknowledgment of atmospheric effects on sound propagation.
Conclusion: Matson’s presentation challenges the narrative that wind turbine infrasound is harmless, presenting evidence of high infrasound levels, flawed industry models, and potential health risks. He advocates for advanced simulation tools like Sound360, proper measurement protocols, and comprehensive health studies to address these concerns, driven by both scientific evidence and personal experiences.
source www.youtube.com
About the author: Ken Matson is a professor in scientific computing (numerical analysis) with focus on efficient and reliable numerical methods for time-dependent partial differential equations. Application’s where this is of importance is found in for example quantum mechanics, geoscience and fluid mechanics.
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