Life-long expert - Professor Arnold Wilkins outside Essex University psychology department, who conducts research into photosensitive epilepsy. Picture: NIGEL BROWN (77037-1)
Fast-turning wind turbines could trigger seizures, a University of Essex professor has discovered.
Arnold Wilkins, a neuropsychology lecturer at the university, found turbines rotating more than sixty times a minute could provoke epileptic seizures.
Prof Wilkins, who heads up the university's Visual Perception Unit, worked with researchers at Aston University, Birmingham, to assess whether the flickering of sunlight caused by the shadow of wind turbines could affect photosensitive people.
The study found the faster the turbine or the more blades it has, the greater its chance of causing seizures, while wind farms posed a cumulative risk, which could last more than four kilometres.
The team used the results to draw up advice on reducing the risks, which they hope will be adopted as planning guidance.
Prof Wilkins, who has been studying epilepsy and techniques for treatment for more than 30 years, said: "Current planning guidelines relate to annoyance, and are based on physical or engineering considerations, rather than the danger to people.
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"There are guidelines now to prevent flickering adverts on TV. There needs to be the same regulations with wind turbines."
The study has been backed by national epilepsy charity, Epilepsy Action.
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