風力發電機組產生之低頻噪音與健康風險的展望

Perspectives of health risk from exposure to low-frequency noise generated by wind turbines

風力發電在全球的永續能源發展中，是一個重要的再生性能源。但是，許多的文獻指出，風力發電機組周邊的居民感受到風力發電機組所產生的低頻噪音，導致居民的生活品質下降、誘發身心受損，進而出現健康上的負面效應。在此發展趨勢下，風力發電機組的興建，成為眾所關注的焦點。為了能夠讓此公眾的議題之發展有較為正面的結局，我們特別蒐集發表在國際性學術期刊上的相關論文，綜合整理，以探討風力發電機組產生的噪音來源、彙整噪音的監測結果、分析風力發電與健康的流行病學研究資料、說明健康影響的生物標記研究，檢討這些研究的限制及需要再確認的議題。根據本研究對於風車所產生的低頻噪音之科學文獻的回顧整理，我們認為風車的低頻噪音對人體存在潛在性的危害。因此，我們建議需要配合健康檢查進行長期性的追蹤，特別建議心血管疾病的追蹤列為必須觀察的重點，以確實掌握其影響的程度和範圍。

Wind turbines (WTs) are an indispensable component of sustainable energy development, providing one of the most important renewable energy resources; however, studies have shown that WTs generate unpleasant low-frequency noise, which may have adverse physical and mental effects and diminish the quality of human life. Thus, noise emitted from the rotor blades of WTs is a public health concern. The aim of the current study was to conduct a review of the relevant peer-reviewed scientific literature. Our effort focused on the sources of noise generated from WTs, sound pressure levels in the vicinity of WTs, epidemiologic studies on health status and quality of life among the residents in close proximity of wind farms, and biomarkers used to identify stress-related disorders. Based on well-documented findings, it is scientifically feasible that low-frequency noise generated by WTs may have adverse effects on human health. To confirm that health impairment is related to low-frequency noise exposure, it is suggested that a long-term epidemiologic study can be conducted based on physical examinations for residents in the vicinity of wind farms, with a focus on cardiovascular disease.