The Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA), a national coalition of health care groups, has released findings that refute any correlation between wind power and decreased human health.

 

Developed by the organisation’s scientific advisory body, the Position Statement seeks prove that renewable energy generation, such as wind power, provides a safe and healthy alternative to fossil fuels.

 

“There is no credible peer reviewed scientific evidence that demonstrates a link between wind turbines and direct adverse health impacts in people living in proximity to them,” CAHA Convenor Fiona Armstrong said.

 

“In contrast, Australia’s current energy generation that relies on the burning of fossils fuels such as coal and gas is not only contributing to climate change but (particularly in the case of coal) also poses significant threats to human health.”

 

The Health and Wind Turbines paper finds that the large-scale industrial wind farms that have been in operation for decades have not caused any detriments to human health in the surrounding population.

 

“The balance of current scientific evidence indicates that while a small proportion of people may experience annoyance associated with wind turbines, on the whole no direct adverse physiological health effects related to wind turbines have been demonstrated,” Ms Armstrong said.

 

The article rebukes claims of any connection between wind turbines and health problems while also highlighting a strong, direct correlation between the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation and cardiovascular disease, respirator disease and cancer.

 

“It is estimated that the harm to health from emissions from Australian coal-fired power stations is costing the Australia community $A2.6 billion annually. Together with the health damage from fossil fuel powered transport emissions, this amounts to an annual health bill of almost $6 billion, as well as contributing to more than 1000 deaths each year.”

 

The position statement can be found here