This article comes from the Warrnambool Standard, journalist is SHANE FOWLES.
AN independent study into wind farms which measured Yambuk residents’ health has found there is no link between exposure to turbines and health problems.
University of Adelaide professor Gary Wittert used data from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to compare medical prescriptions of people living in areas with and without turbines.
His study involved 12,000 people living within a 10-kilometre radius around wind farms in Yambuk, Waubra and two sites in South Australia.
“I can tell you from a preliminary look — and we will send this to peer review as soon as it’s fully analysed — there is no hint of any effect on a population basis for an increased use of sleeping pills or blood pressure or cardiovascular medications whatsoever,” he told the ABC.
“If you whip up anxiety, people will generate many of these symptoms.
“There’s fear of the unknown, there’s activists creating concern among the population.”
The 10km zone was chosen because anti-wind farm campaigner Dr Sarah Laurie said people living within that area could be at risk of health problems such as elevated blood pressure and headaches.
As medical director of the Waubra Foundation, which was formed after anecdotal evidence of health problems in people who live near wind turbines, Dr Laurie has been an active campaigner.
While visiting Portland earlier this year, she raised a link between early morning high blood pressure, heart attacks and wind farms.
In giving evidence at a Senate inquiry, Pacific Hydro general manager Lane Crockett said the company never had a complaint near the Codrington wind farm until Dr Laurie’s public appearance in Portland.
“Since these claims were made, Pacific Hydro has received several calls from worried residents nearby our wind farm asking if they are likely to become ill,” Mr Crockett said.
“We note that in recent community consultations a number of residents showed considerable anxiety about a wind farm being built in their area.
“It does seem odd to me that 10 years go by and then suddenly people are asking questions.
“They are not asking questions because of the wind farm; they are asking questions because of what they have been told.”
At the inquiry hearing in March, the Glenelg Shire Council revealed it had received five complaints about the wind energy sector.
With AAP
yes2renewables.org 
“If you whip up anxiety, people will generate many of the symptoms.”
Which exactly sums up windfarms syndrome. When we have quacks like Laurie going round to otherwise peaceful communities whipping up concerns and worry, it highlights just how low wind farm opponents will stoop to try and make their case.
I’ll be really interested to see how the anti-windies try to undermine Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data, no doubt they’ll be claiming there is some high-level government conspiracy with these figures 🙂
Here we go again, another desk top study well done mr wittert, you credability is in tatters.
And Lane Crockett comments don’t help, at a very large meeting in Ballan last year he stated that he wouldn’t want his family to live next wind turbines, oh brother!!!
I think Sarah (Dr Laurie) is well meaning, but badly misguided. And she probably is harming people’s health by her talks, not doing any good. Pitty. She’s really a nice person.
Who is she misguided by Dave? Is she not guiding herself?
On the subject of the desktop study, would it not have been more appropriate do do it within say 3km?
10 seems a bit far out to me
Peter, you should familiarise yourself with how objective studies are conducted, then you would understand why anecdotes don’t count when trying to evaluate certain claims. It would also help you understand that correlation doesn’t equal causation.
I’m sure Dr Laurie thinks she is helping people, unfortunately all she is doing is spreading unnecessary fear.
Sorry blair, more irrelevance from you, i wont even bother replying with a sensible answer.