The low-frequency noise generated by wind turbines is known as one of the risk factors for health. The aim of this study was to study the noise effect of wind turbine on the general health of staff at Manjil wind farm. For this purpose, workers were divided into three groups: maintenance, security, and office staff. Equivalent sound levels were measured for each group. Individual’s health data were assessed using the 28-item General Health Questionnaire. Pearson correlation, analysis of variance, and multiple regression tests were used for data analysis in the R software. Statistical analysis results showed that the noise exposure is significantly correlated to all sub-scales of general health, except for depression. The low-frequency noise from wind turbines can cause harmful effects on the health of workers that are too close to the wind turbine and receive very intense noise.

Background: In this study, the association between the social determinants of health (SDH) as well as other health risk factors and outcomes will be evaluated at different socioeconomic layers. Methods/design: This is a prospective cohort study that was launched in January 2018 on Tehran University of Medical Sciences’ employees. The initial enrolment phase will continue up to March 2021, or until a sample size of 5500 is reached. In addition to annual phone-calls, the participants will be followed thrice at 5-year intervals. Data are collected through blood and urine samples, complete physical examination, anthropometric evaluation, and the completion of questionnaires related to SDH, such as socioeconomic status and social capital, history of diseases, lifestyle (including, nutrition, physical activity, cigarette and hookah smoking), occupational exposures (including psychosocial factors at work and work-family conflicts), and different aspects of physical, mental and occupational health as health outcomes. The association between independent variables and health (objective or subjective) are examined using multiple models and by controlling the confounding effects. Moreover, the trend in lifestyle changes and its impact on health are evaluated. Discussion: Our study will explore the key social determinants as well as other factors including socioeconomic status and social capital, history of diseases, lifestyle and occupational exposures that affect health. This will provide social and occupational health decision-makers and stakeholders with new and valuable evidence in an era in which we are witnessing huge changes in lifestyle.

The wind turbine’s sound seems to have a proportional effect on health of people living near to wind farms. This study aimed to investigate the effect of noise emitted from wind turbines on general health, sleep and annoyance among workers of manjil wind farm, Iran. A total number of 53 workers took part in this study. Based on the type of job, they were categorized into three groups of maintenance, security and office staff. The persons’ exposure at each job-related group was measured by eight-hour equivalent sound level (LAeq, 8 h). A Noise annoyance scale, Epworth sleepiness scale and 28-item general health questionnaire was used for gathering data from workers. The data were analyzed through Multivariate Analysis of variance (MANOVA) test, Pillai’s Trace test, Paired comparisons analysis and Multivariate regression test were used in the R software. The results showed that, response variables (annoyance, sleep disturbance and health) were significantly different between job groups. The results also indicated that sleep disturbance as well as noise exposure had a significant effect on general health. Noise annoyance and distance from wind turbines could significantly explain about 44.5 and 34.2 % of the variance in sleep disturbance and worker’s general health, respectively. General health was significantly different in different age groups while age had no significant impact on sleep disturbance. The results were reverse for distance because it had no significant impact on health, but sleep disturbance was significantly affected. We came to this conclusion that wind turbines noise can directly impact on annoyance, sleep and health. This type of energy generation can have potential health risks for wind farm workers. However, further research is needed to confirm the results of this study.

Taxi drivers are daily exposed to frequent and prolonged whole-body vibration. This can cause complications such as back pain among them. Since the vibration level depends on many factors, the present study was performed to model the impact of vehicle speed on the attributes of whole-body vibration among the Peugeot 405 taxi drivers. In this experimental study, the whole-body vibration was measured while other variables including tire pressure, engine speed, road gradient, number of passengers, and type of tire, springs, and shock absorbers had been fixed. The measurements were done according to ISO2631–1 at different speeds of 20, 40, 60, and 80 km/h. Increasing the vehicle speed caused an increase in the average value of vibration attributes including Z-axis (vertical) r.m.s. acceleration, 8-h equivalent acceleration, vibration dose value (m/s^1.75), and crest factor (P < 0.05). At the speed of 80 km/h, the average vibration dose value (17.6 m/s^1.75) exceeded the upper limit of the ISO 2631–1:1997 health caution zone (>17). Further, 8-h equivalent acceleration, at the speeds of 60 and 80 km/h, was beyond the upper limit (>0.9 m/s²). According to the crest factor, increasing speed would cause greater vibration peaks along the Z-axis (worst-case axis). The amount of whole-body vibration is sensitive to speed changes so that urban taxi drivers who are usually driving at low speeds for inner-city transits will be exposed to a lower average value of whole-body vibration. Due to the evident effect of speed on whole-body vibration attributes, it is strongly recommended to be given full consideration to this factor in preparing vibration control plans for vehicles.

Introduction: Taxi drivers’ exposure to repeat whole-body vibrations can cause back pain and digestive disorders. Since this type of vibration depends on the car components, this study was carried out to determine the influence of tire characteristics on the amount of whole-body vibrations transmitted to the Peugeot 405 taxi drivers. ...