[en] The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) reiterates that wind turbines emit infra-sounds (sound below 20 Hz) and low-frequency sounds. There are also other sources of infra-sound emissions that can be natural (wind in particular) or anthropogenic (heavy-goods vehicles, heat pumps, etc.). The measurement campaigns undertaken during the expert appraisal enabled these emissions from three wind farms to be characterised. In general, only very high intensities of infra-sound can be heard or perceived by humans. At the minimum distance (of 500 metres) separating homes from wind farm sites set out by the regulations, the infra-sounds produced by wind turbines do not exceed hearing thresholds. Therefore, the disturbance related to audible noise potentially felt by people around wind farms mainly relates to frequencies above 50 Hz. The expert appraisal showed that mechanisms for health effects grouped under the term 'vibro-acoustic disease', reported in certain publications, have no serious scientific basis. There have been very few scientific studies on the potential health effects of infra-sounds and low frequencies produced by wind turbines. The review of these experimental and epidemiological data did not find any adequate scientific arguments for the occurrence of health effects related to exposure to noise from wind turbines, other than disturbance related to audible noise and a nocebo effect, which can help explain the occurrence of stress-related symptoms experienced by residents living near wind farms. However, recently acquired knowledge on the physiology of the cochlea-vestibular system has revealed physiological effects in animals induced by exposure to high-intensity infra-sounds. These effects, while plausible in humans, have yet to be demonstrated for exposure to levels comparable to those observed in residents living near wind farms. Moreover, the connection between these physiological effects and the occurrence of a health effect has not been documented. In this context, ANSES recommends: Concerning studies and research: - verifying whether or not there is a possible mechanism modulating the perception of audible sound at intensities of infra-sound similar to those measured from local residents; - studying the effects of the amplitude modulation of the acoustic signal on the noise-related disturbance felt; - studying the assumption that cochlea-vestibular effects may be responsible for pathophysiological effects; - undertaking a survey of residents living near wind farms enabling the identification of an objective signature of a physiological effect. Concerning information for local residents and the monitoring of noise levels: - enhancing information for local residents during the construction of wind farms and participation in public inquiries undertaken in rural areas; - systematically measuring the noise emissions of wind turbines before and after they are brought into service; - setting up, especially in the event of controversy, continuous noise measurement systems around wind farms (based on experience at airports, for example). Lastly, the Agency reiterates that the current regulations state that the distance between a wind turbine and the first home should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking the conditions of wind farms into account. This distance, of at least 500 metres, may be increased further to the results of an impact assessment, in order to comply with the limit values for noise exposure. Current knowledge of the potential health effects of exposure to infra-sounds and low-frequency noise provides no justification for changing the current limit values or for extending the spectrum of noise currently taken into consideration

[en] On 28 October 2013, ANSES received a request from the Directorate General for Health (DGS) and the Directorate General for Labour (DGT) to undertake an expert appraisal on the potential impacts of climate change on the health and safety of workers. This formal request was issued as part of efforts to strengthen the management of occupational risks posed by climate change, which is one of the actions set out in the first French National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PNACC) presented in July 2011. Climate change, defined as a change in the state of the climate that persists for an extended period, is part of 'global change'. Sometimes referred to as 'global environmental change', this was defined by the Working Group in charge of the expert appraisal as all major worldwide environmental and societal changes caused by human activities as well as natural factors. Among other things, climate change is likely to affect human health, with specific or compounded effects on the health of certain professionals. French Planning Law No 2009-967 of 3 August 2009 on the implementation of the Grenelle environmental round table provided for the preparation of a PNACC as part of the State's commitment to climate change adaptation in France. In 2011, following a broad consultation, France drew up an inter-sector and inter-ministerial PNACC drawing together recommendations translated into action sheets for a five-year period. The sheet relating to health issues included an action on the development of preventive health measures that take into account the consequences of extreme events and the adaptation of vigilance and alert systems. Action 4, Measure 4.2 aimed to strengthen the management of occupational risks posed by climate change. In this context, ANSES was asked to undertake a scientific expert appraisal to: - compile, through a review of the literature, the potential qualitative effects of climate change on general health; - identify the exceptional or lasting climate hazards most likely to increase in frequency and/or intensity, to study their effects as a priority, in particular considering the numerous potential effects and the uncertainties related to the likelihood of them occurring; - based on a more specific overview for the health and safety of workers, identify the sectors and/or occupations exposed to the effects in question; - assess and classify the risks and estimate the potential impacts in exposed workers; - issue recommendations for eliminating, reducing or preventing the identified risks; - and, where relevant, issue research recommendations. The first two points are being or have been addressed via work undertaken by other organisations more directly involved in these issues than ANSES. The Agency therefore reported and summarised these organisations' conclusions in the expert appraisal report associated with this Opinion, in order to establish the scientific context of climate change in which its work was undertaken. The initial aims of the expert appraisal work were therefore, before any risk assessment, to identify and prioritise the occupational activities likely to be impacted by climate change. However, in light of the extremely wide variety of occupations and the various exposure conditions that can be associated with the same occupational activity, the objectives of the expert appraisal were redirected, in consultation with the requesters, towards identifying occupational risks likely to be impacted by climate change.

[en] Farmers from two cattle farms located near a wind farm in Loire-Atlantique have reported various problems with their animals, including a reduction in milk yield and quality, behavioural problems, and an increase in mortality. ANSES stresses that these particular situations require support measures. However, it has concluded that the disorders encountered are most likely unrelated to the presence of the wind turbines. The Agency recommends establishing a suitable comprehensive diagnostic protocol, in order to be able to act promptly in the event of disorders occurring in other farms close to wind turbines