Low freuency infrasound can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, heart fibrosis, cognitive damage, among other serious risks

A real health hazard. Image: Vernunftkraft.de 

An article published by German online TKP sums up a recent scientific review titled “Infrasound and Human Health: Mechanisms, Effects, and Applications” (published in the journal Applied Sciences by MDPI).

The biological and health risks associated with the infrasound (low-frequency sound below 20 Hz) produced by wind turbines can indeed be profound.

1. Biological mechanisms: cellular “stress”

Low frequency infrasound from wind turbines acts on the body even when it cannot be heard. It triggers a process called mechanotransduction, where cells convert mechanical pressure waves into biological signals. High-intensity or chronic exposure can cause oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the accumulation of calcium within cells.

In extreme or prolonged cases, these stresses can lead to programmed cell death (apoptosis) in various tissues.

2. Effects on the heart and cardiovascular system

The TKP article highlights that the rhythmic, impulsive nature of wind turbine infrasound is particularly stressful for the heart. Research suggests that high sound pressure levels of infrasound can lead to the thickening of heart tissue (fibrosis).

It may affect blood pressure and the integrity of the vascular system by disrupting the “pressure-sensitive” ion channels (like PIEZO1) in the walls of blood vessels.

3. Impact on the brain and nervous system

The scientific review teported by TKP notes that the brain is highly sensitive to the vibrations of infrasound, which can be transmitted through the skull or the inner ear. Prolonged exposure is associated with reduced concentration, impaired memory, and difficulties with “higher-order” cognitive tasks (like logical reasoning).

Animal studies cited in the review showed that intense infrasound could trigger inflammatory responses in the brain.

Moreover, infrasound can disturb the inner ear’s balance organs, leading to dizziness, nausea, and the “sea-sickness” sensation often reported by residents near wind farms.

4. Comparison to natural infrasound

The article emphasizes a critical distinction: natural infrasound (like wind or ocean waves) is usually “harmonious” or random. In contrast, wind turbine infrasound is pulsating and repetitive. This rhythmic nature prevents the body from “tuning out” the stimulus, leading to chronic physiological stress.

TKP reports that current safety regulations are outdated and inadeqaute. Most noise regulations use the “dBA” scale, which filters out low frequencies to mimic human hearing. The article argues this is useless for infrasound because the damage is biological, not auditory.

Based on the findings, some experts cited in the article suggest that safety distances for wind turbines should be significantly increased (potentially up to 5–10 kilometers) to protect public health.