Hayes happy with wind turbine health study revisions
Thursday, February 28, 2013 by: SooToday.com Staff
NEWS RELEASE
BRYAN HAYES, MP
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MP Hayes applauds Health Canada`s revised research design for the Wind Turbine Noise and Health Study
OTTAWA – The Sault Ste. Marie electoral district is home to the Prince Township Wind Farm, the third largest in Canada.
As such, Bryan Hayes, MP for Sault Ste. Marie, applauds the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, who, on January 30, announced that Health Canada published a revised research design for the wind turbine noise and health study, which is being carried out in collaboration with Statistics Canada.
The proposed study design was posted on the Health Canada website in July 2012 for public comment and over 950 comments were received during the 60 day public consultation period.
After an evaluation of feedback received during the consultation, the Expert Committee introduced changes to the research design including an assessment of infrasound and changes to the questionnaire administered by Statistics Canada.
The Expert Committee includes specialists in areas including noise, health assessment, clinical medicine and epidemiology.
“Our Government is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians, and this study is in response to questions from residents living near wind farms about possible health effects of low frequency noise generated by wind turbines,” said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health. “The Expert Committee has carefully reviewed and evaluated the feedback received during the public consultation and has taken it into consideration when developing the revised research design.”
“Our Government’s focus is on putting the health and safety of Canadians first and this study will do just that by painting a more complete picture of the potential health impacts of industrial wind turbine noise. This is particularly important because the number of industrial wind turbines has been increasing across Canada,” said Bryan Hayes, MP. “Until Health Canada issues its report on this important matter, I believe the responsible course of action is for the Government of Ontario to place a moratorium on further development, particularly when the power generation is not needed."
Study results are anticipated in late 2014.
An initial target sample size of 2,000 dwellings will be selected from 8-12 wind turbine installation facilities in Canada.
In addition to taking physical measurements from participants, such as blood pressure, investigators will conduct face-to-face interviews and take noise measurements inside and outside of some homes to validate sound modelling.
Health Canada has expertise in measuring noise and assessing the health impacts of noise because of its role in administering the Radiation Emitting Devices Act (REDA).
As defined under REDA, noise is a form of radiation.
The revised research design is available on the Health Canada website.
A summary of the public comments received during the consultation period (organized by theme) and the responses from the Expert Committee are also available on the website.
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