Can wind turbines cause epileptic fits?

An expert has warned that wind farms pose a larger problem than just being an eyesore for some people – they have the potential to cause epileptic fits.

According to Professor Arnold Wilkins, the flickering of sunlight which occurs as the blades turn, can trigger seizures in more vulnerable members of the public. Professor Wilkins is calling for the risk to be considered when building wind farms.

Epileptics are usually in danger of a seizure if light flickers three times or more a second. Wind turbine blades running at a good speed will create more than three flickers a second. Professor Wilkins is concerned that where turbines are located close to each other, the shadows of the blades can cross over leading to a greater frequency of flickers therefore there is a big risk to epileptics living or working in the shadow of wind turbines.