title: Estimating annoyance to calculated wind turbine shadow flicker is improved when variables associated with wind turbine noise exposure are considered.
abstract: The Community Noise and Health Study conducted by Health Canada included randomly selected participants aged 18-79 yrs (606 males, 632 females, response rate 78.9%), living between 0.25 and 11.22 km from operational wind turbines. Annoyance to wind turbine noise (WTN) and other features, including shadow flicker (SF) was assessed. The current analysis reports on the degree to which estimating high annoyance to wind turbine shadow flicker (HAWTSF) was improved when variables known to be related to WTN exposure were also considered. As SF exposure increased [calculated as maximum minutes per day (SFm)], HAWTSF increased from 3.8% at 0 ≤ SFm < 10 to 21.1% at SFm ≥ 30, p < 0.0001. For each unit increase in SFm the odds ratio was 2.02 [95% confidence interval: (1.68,2.43)]. Stepwise regression models for HAWTSF had a predictive strength of up to 53% with 10% attributed to SFm. Variables associated with HAWTSF included, but were not limited to, annoyance to other wind turbine-related features, concern for physical safety, and noise sensitivity. Reported dizziness was also retained in the final model at p = 0.0581. Study findings add to the growing science base in this area and may be helpful in identifying factors associated with community reactions to SF exposure from wind turbines.
authors.affiliation: Health Canada, Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences Directorate, Consumer & Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, 775 Brookfield Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1C1, Canada.
authors.forename: Sonia A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Voicescu
authors.affiliation: Health Canada, Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences Directorate, Consumer & Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, 775 Brookfield Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1C1, Canada.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Michaud
authors.affiliation: Health Canada, Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences Directorate, Consumer & Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, 775 Brookfield Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1C1, Canada.
authors.forename: Katya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Feder
authors.affiliation: Health Canada, Population Studies Division, Biostatistics Section, 200 Eglantine Driveway, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors.forename: Leonora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marro
authors.affiliation: Health Canada, Population Studies Division, Biostatistics Section, 200 Eglantine Driveway, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Than
authors.affiliation: Health Canada, Population Studies Division, Biostatistics Section, 200 Eglantine Driveway, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guay
authors.affiliation: Health Canada, Environmental Health Program, Health Programs Branch, Regions and Programs Bureau, 1505 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Denning
authors.affiliation: Health Canada, Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences Directorate, Office of Science Policy, Liaison and Coordination, 269 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bower
authors.affiliation: The Amsterdam Public Health Service (GGD Amsterdam), Environmental Health Department, Nieuwe Achtergracht 100, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frits
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.affiliation: Broner Consulting Pty Ltd., Melbourne, Victoria 3183, Australia.
authors.forename: Norm
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Broner
authors.affiliation: Health Canada, Air Health Science Division, 269 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lavigne