After a conviction in the Tarn, can we speak of “wind syndrome”? – LCI

Are wind turbines harmful to health? For the first time in France, justice says “yes”. A few days ago, a couple living in the Tarn obtained 128,000 euros in compensation after the Toulouse Court of Appeal recognized the noise and visual nuisance of these large white mills, located a few hundred meters from their home.

After the construction of six wind turbines, between 2008 and 2009, the complainants began to experience negative effects on their health: headaches, nausea, nosebleeds or even sleep disturbances … long, according to residents.

The “wind turbine syndrome” is not, however, a disease recognized as such. There are few studies on the subject in France. Only the Academy of Medicine had demanded, in 2006, that the parks be classified in “Industrial Zone”, comparing their noise impact to that of factories. Ten years later, she continued her analysis, evoking the responsibility of wind turbines “An existential suffering which, however, concerns only part of the residents”.

However, for Emmanuel Forichon, representative in the Tarn of the group All our Energies and former doctor, requested by LCI, no doubt, these are the cause of all the ills described by the couple: “The authorities do not go further than measurable, somatic effects”, he laments. “For them, the noise of wind turbines does not cause hearing loss so there is no problem, even though, there is indeed a noise nuisance. “

“VSis the long exposure to these wind turbines, too close to homes, and their infrasound “ which promotes these disorders, he continues, citing the WHO definition of health – a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. Thereby, “There are therefore many psychological and social disturbances”.

Where the shoe pinch is that the park in question, installed near the couple, does not violate any law. Located more than 700 meters from their house, it respects the minimum distance between wind turbines and homes set at 500 meters by France. In Denmark and the United Kingdom, however, the distance between the wind turbine and the first homes must be four times greater than the height of the mast, reports the National Health Security Agency (Anses). In the United States, it must be a minimum of two kilometers. “In France, the regulation of the installation of wind turbines is not severe enough”, Judge Emmanuel Forichon, hoping for a change of course with the judgment of the Toulouse Court of Appeal. “The public authorities must have a real awareness.”

The only joy for the former doctor: “The government said it was going to tighten control of wind farms as early as January 2021”. As a reminder, in just ten years, parks have grown massively in France. Nearly 8,000 onshore wind turbines, spread over 1,380 wind farms, came out of the earth, most often in the great plains.