Does Stochastic and Modulated Wind Turbine Infrasound Affect Human Mental Performance Compared to Steady Signals without Modulation? Results of a Pilot Study

Paweł Małecki (), Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska, Tadeusz Wszołek, Anna Preis, Maciej Kłaczyński, Adam Dudarewicz, Paweł Pawlik, Bartłomiej Stępień and Dominik Mleczko
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Paweł Małecki: Department of Mechanics and Vibroacoustics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska: Department of Vibroacoustic Hazards, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 91-348 Lodz, Poland
Tadeusz Wszołek: Department of Mechanics and Vibroacoustics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Anna Preis: Institute of Acoustics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-712 Poznan, Poland
Maciej Kłaczyński: Department of Mechanics and Vibroacoustics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Adam Dudarewicz: Department of Vibroacoustic Hazards, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 91-348 Lodz, Poland
Paweł Pawlik: Department of Mechanics and Vibroacoustics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Bartłomiej Stępień: Department of Mechanics and Vibroacoustics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Dominik Mleczko: Department of Mechanics and Vibroacoustics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: Wind turbines (WT) are a specific type of noise source, with unique characteristics, such as amplitude modulation (AM) and tonality, infrasonic and low frequency (LF) components. The present study investigates the influence of wind turbine infrasound and low frequency noise (LFN) on human well-being. In the between-subjects study design, 129 students performed a cognitive test evaluating attention and filled out questionnaires in three various exposure conditions, including background noise, synthesized LFN (reference noise) and registered WT infrasound (stimulus). No significant differences in test results or in the number of reported post-exposure feelings and ailments in various exposure conditions were found when analyzing them in males and females, separately. However, a significant association between pre-exposure well-being and reported post-exposure complaints was noted and explained by in-depth statistical analysis.

Keywords: infrasound; low-frequency noise; wind turbine; effects on humans; infrasound playback (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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