Pro-Tobacco Doctor Testifies on Health Dangers of Wind Turbines

A doctor whose work downplays the risks of tobacco use told the Lee County Board this week that wind turbines are dangerous to human health. The doctor was invited to present to the Board by an anti-wind group seeking to derail wind development in the area, though one wind developer was quick to point out that his "research" was lacking in several areas.

Dr. Carl Philips is a Pennsylvania epidemiologist better-known for TobaccoHarmReduction.org, a website claiming that chewing tobacco "can reduce the risks of tobacco use by around 99% compared to smoking," a finding that is far outside mainstream medical thinking.

Nonetheless, the anti-wind group felt Philips was a credible witness, and he was allowed more than an hour to present to the Board. According to an article in Sauk Valley Media:

A scientist who has studied the effects of wind turbines argued Thursday that there was “overwhelming evidence” that they hurt people’s health.

A wind industry representative, however, said epidemiologist Carl V. Phillips didn’t answer many direct questions during an evening presentation.

Phillips, who lives in Pennsylvania, was allowed to present for up to an hour to the Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals, which is reviewing the county’s ordinance on wind turbines.

Then the public got to ask questions.

Phillips said that in his research, he has found that people who live up to 2 miles away from the turbines develop such things as sleep, stress and mood disorders once wind farms go up.

Wind turbines create noise, vibrations and shadow flicker, he said. But he acknowledged that scientists don’t know exactly how turbines cause the health problems.

That’s not unusual in science, he said, noting that experts have known for 60 years that smoking is linked to cardiovascular disease but don’t know exactly how.

Phillips said he didn’t know the exact percentage of residents within a mile or more of wind farms who suffer “substantial” health problems as the result of the turbines, but he said his best guess, based on research, was 5 percent.

Anyone who argues that wind turbines don’t have bad health effects are either ignoring the evidence or “trying to mislead,” Phillips said.[...]

In questioning, Phillips acknowledged that he hadn’t compared people’s health both before and after wind turbines go up. But he said he would like such information.

Lee County now requires that the distance between turbines and homes be 1,400 feet – a little more than a quarter-mile. Phillips suggested that the setback should probably be somewhere between 1 and 2 miles, but he said there wasn’t enough evidence to determine what would be the best setback.

If the setback were at 1 or 2 miles, there may not be a feasible spot in the county for turbines, he said.[...]

Near the end of the meeting, Susie Miller of Ashton questioned whether representatives of Ireland-based wind company, Mainstream Renewable Power, had anything to say.

Mainstream’s John Martin said the presentation was Phillips’ “philosophical” statements and “personal hypotheses.” He said Phillips essentially said that he wanted more studies.

Lee County Panel to Allow Anti-Wind Doctor to Present at Future Meeting

A doctor who has previously testified on the unproven theory of "Wind Turbine Syndrome" may soon make a presentation to a Lee County Panel charged with making changes to the county's wind zoning ordinance, says an article from Sauk Valley Media:

During Thursday’s meeting, Steve Robery, a rural Franklin Grove resident, asked the board to have Dr. Carl Phillips, an epidemiologist and an expert on the health effects of turbines, speak before the panel. Such a presentation, including questions, likely would take up an entire 2-hour meeting, he said.[...]

[Board Chairman Ron] Conderman said it would be hard for the board to have the opinions of two competing experts. Member Tom Fassler said he didn’t see how the board could deny the request for the expert.

The board voted 4-1 in favor of letting Phillips speak, probably at the Oct. 6 meeting.

Philips is one of just a handful of "experts" on "wind turbine syndrome" and has testified before several governmental panels in the past (see his testimony before the Wisconsin Public Service Commission here, and an article he published in a questionable scientific journal here).

But Philips is also known for being the head of TobaccoHarmReduction.org, an online "institute" that downplays the risks of tobacco and advocates that "modern smokeless tobacco products can reduce the risks of tobacco use."

Really.