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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 2014-11-26, Page 3Wednesday, November 26, 2014 • News Record 3 Prof disputes wind turbine report One of the key experts back- ing opposition to awind energy development on Amherst Island said a recent Health Can- ada study is more politics than science. John Harrison, a Queen's University professor emeritus in physics and a member of the Association to Protect Amherst Island, said the report contra- dicts itself and was not peer reviewed. In a report released recently, Health Canada said there is no link between noise from wind turbines and adverse health effects. Health Canada scientists looked at communities that host wind farms. Two dozen government, academic and industry experts contributed to Illnesses inc The Huron County Health Unit is seeing an increase in stomach -related illness across the county. Residents can stop the spread of infection by staying home when sick. Public Health Inspector Rox- ana oxana Nassiri says the recent ill- ness is likely caused by Norovi- rus. Noroviruses cause sudden onset of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms can also include low-grade fever, chills, headache, tiredness and mus- cle aches. Illness lasts 24 to 48 hours. Norovirus spreads easily, usually through person-to-per- son contact. The virus enters a person's mouth through con- taminated food, water or hands. the study. Researchers examined 1,200 participants living within 2 km of wind turbines in Ontario and P.E.I. Scientists found that while some residents livingnearwind turbines noted some indicators of stress -- sleep disruption, headaches -- there was nothing to indicate those stressors were the result of the wind turbines. "It's the conclusion the Ontario government wants to hear. It's the conclusion that the wind industry wants to hear," Harrison said. Harrison pointed out that the report later states that annoy- ance caused by the noise from wind turbines is linked to sleep problems, illness, stress and quality of life. "I can't help, as a scientist, to link those together and say reasing: stay Hands can become contami- natedbyclose personal contact, sharing objects or touching the same surfaces as someone who has the virus. "You can avoid spreading Norovirus by staying home when sick," says Nassiri. "Ifyour children are sick, keep them home from daycare until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours" Healthcare workers, food handlers and caregivers, including daycare staff, should not return to work until 48 hours after symptoms have resolved. Nassiri adds that ifyou feel ill, you should not visit elderly residents in long-term care facilities. annoyance increases with the noise, health effects increase with the annoyance, so health effects must increase with the noise." Harrison also criticized the report, which is a summary of conclusions reached byalarger study, for not including the sci- entific data the study collected. Harrison said he originally supported Health Canada's plan to survey the effect wind turbines have on people living nearby. But with the release of last week's report, something Harri- son called "premature," the lack of scientific data makes it impossible to have it reviewed by other scientists, he said. "This is partly, in my view, partly scientific and partlypolit- ical," he said. "This is political. This is home if sick You can also stop the spread of infection by cleaning and dis- infecting commonly touched surfaces such as counters, doorknobs and remote controls. Frequent hand washing with warm running water and soap for at least 20 seconds is also important. Hands should be cleaned after using the wash- room, after changing diapers, after shaking hands and before preparing and eating food. You can be reinfected with Norovirus even after you have recovered. There is no specific treatment, but it is important to get plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. clintonnewsrecord.com DONN EL LY' , L e• W TI l U R P H Injured/ Insurance Disputes? 18 The Square, Goderich Phone: 519-524-2154 926 Queen Street, Kincardine Phone: 519-396-3636 www.donnellymurphy.com Problem Solved Right Here political because the provinces want to build turbines. This is political because the provinces want the wind energy compa- nies to build them and use their own money:' Harrison also took exception to statements in the report that he says are either not supported or attributed to any scientific research or too general to mean anything. "Something as fuzzy as parts of this summary would never make it through the peer review for a reputable journal," he said. APAI board member Denise Wolfe also did an analysis of the report. She has concems about the quality of the data the report was based. "I'm just really concerned the data is flawed from the get go; said Wolfe, whose background is in conducting audits of clini- cal trials for new drugs. Wolfe said the type of survey Health Canada conducted was not in depth enough to reach any conclusions about the health impact of wind turbines. "I was a little surprised that (the report) was not as rigorous as I would have wanted." Of particular concern was a note that states that 434 dwell- ings -- more than 20% -- of the more than 2,000 dwellings included in the study are deemed not valid and excluded. "If 20% of those people had headaches. Wow! That throws it out the window, doesn't it;' she said. "Complete lack of data for 20% of a sample population doesn't compromise the valid- ity of the study. It completely destroys it. It blows it up, right there. Boom!" Those included residences that were demolished, under construction, vacant, unoccu- pied or occupied by residents outside the eligible age range. Wolfe argued that for many people living near wind tur- bines, getting away from their homes is the only source of relief from the health effects. Wolfe also said the study looked at the health impacts on people living up to 10 km from a turbine. But she added that only about 20% of the res- idents lived close to a turbine and presumably endured worse effects, and she sug- gested their voices may have been lost in the larger sample. elliot.ferguson@sunmedia. ca Twitter.com/ Elliotatthewhig Red Scarf project coming to Huron County Over 100 red scarves will decorate Goderich's Court- house Square Monday, December 1, marldng Huron County's first Red Scarf Project. The Red Scarf project raises public awareness of HIV/AIDS in our communities, especially the importance of education and services for people living with HIV/AIDS and their car- egivers. This year's project is a partnership between the Huron County Health Unit and the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC). Decem- ber 1, 2014 is World AIDS Day. The red scarves are enlarged versions of the red ribbon, the international symbol of AIDS awareness. Spinrite Yarns gen- erously donated all of the red yarn which staff and volun- teers used to knit and crochet the over 100 scarves. On Monday, December 1 at 9 am, localvolunteers and staff of Huron County, the Health Unit and the Huron County HIV/AIDS Network (HCHAN) will hand out scarves and rib- bons to engage people in the conversation. They will also place the red scarves on trees, lamp and sign posts around the Square. Members of the public are encouraged to take an availa- ble red scarf and continue the conversation. RHAC is a community - inspired organization dedi- cated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals and diverse communities living with, at -risk for, or affected by the challenges associated with HIV/ AIDS. For more informa- tion about the many events planned by RHAC over AIDS Awareness Week, please visit http://www.hivaidsconnec- tion.ca/events-0 OFFICE HOURS The Office Hours for The Clinton News Record are as follows Mondays - 9am - 5pm Tuesdays - CLOSED Wednesdays - 9am - 5pm Thursdays - 9am - 5pm Fridays - 9am - 5pm ews Record 53 Albert St., Clinton, ON PH: 519-482-3443 www.clintonnewsrecord.com