Infrasound (sound below ~20 Hz) effects on human sleep have been studied in laboratory, field, and epidemiological contexts, particularly in relation to wind turbines, industrial sources, and natural/urban environments.

Evidence is mixed, with self-reported issues more common than objective physiological disruptions at typical environmental levels.

Controlled Laboratory Evidence

Marshall et al. (2023): A rigorous double-blind, randomized crossover study exposed 37 noise-sensitive healthy adults to 72 hours of simulated wind turbine infrasound (~90 dB peak, 1.6–20 Hz signature) vs. sham (silent speakers) and active control (traffic noise). Polysomnography (PSG) measured wake after sleep onset (WASO; primary outcome), sleep stages, arousals, EEG power spectra, and more. Infrasound had no significant effect on WASO, sleep architecture, arousals, or other objective/subjective sleep measures compared to sham. Traffic noise worsened WASO. No participants developed “wind turbine syndrome” symptoms. This is one of the strongest studies isolating infrasound effects.

Older studies (e.g., Landström et al.): Exposure to infrasound during sleep (e.g., in students) showed minimal impact on sleep patterns via EEG, with audible noise (like traffic) causing clearer disruptions (e.g., longer sleep onset, more awakenings). Some subtle EEG shifts (e.g., theta activity) were noted but often non-significant.

High-intensity or prolonged exposures in some pilots have suggested subtle changes (e.g., altered resting-state brain networks or minor EEG power shifts in N2 sleep at ~80 dB(G)), but these are not consistent and often lack strong clinical relevance.

Infrasound effects on human sleep

Infrasound (sound below ~20 Hz) effects on human sleep have been studied in laboratory, field, and epidemiological contexts, particularly in relation to wind turbines, industrial sources, and natural/urban environments.

Evidence is mixed, with self-reported issues more common than objective physiological disruptions at typical environmental levels.

Infrasound health effects

Infrasound refers to sound waves with frequencies below the typical human hearing range, generally under 20 Hz. Humans can perceive very high-intensity infrasound as vibrations or pressure sensations, though it is usually inaudible at environmental levels. It occurs naturally (e.g., from wind, ocean waves, earthquakes, or thunderstorms) and from human sources like industrial machinery, traffic, aircraft, and wind turbines.

Health effects depend heavily on intensity (measured in decibels, often dB(G) or dB(Z) for low frequencies) and duration. Typical residential exposure near wind turbines is very low—often 30–80 dB or below for relevant frequencies—far lower than levels used in many lab studies showing effects (>100 dB). Background infrasound from natural sources is common and usually harmless.

Commonly mentioned symptoms in self-reports (especially near wind turbines or other low-frequency sources) include:

• Annoyance and psychological effects — Irritability, anxiety, or unease.
• Sleep disturbance — Difficulty falling asleep, awakenings, or fatigue.
• Other symptoms — Headaches, concentration issues, dizziness, nausea, or “pressure” sensations (sometimes called “wind turbine syndrome”).
• Cardiovascular — Potential changes in heart contractility or arrhythmias (from specific research like Mainz group).
• Other — Rare reports of vestibular (balance) effects or cognitive changes at high intensities.

Scientific Evidence

High-intensity infrasound (>100 dB): Clearer evidence of effects. The Mainz University group’s in-vitro studies on human heart tissue showed reduced contractility (negative inotropic effect) at 110–120 dB (16 Hz), linked to calcium handling and mitochondrial disruption. Animal and cellular studies report oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, or neuronal changes at high doses.

Typical environmental levels (e.g., wind turbines): Evidence for direct physiological harm is weak or absent in rigorous controlled studies.

• Sleep: A strong 2023 double-blind randomized crossover study (Marshall et al.) exposed noise-sensitive adults to 72 hours of simulated wind turbine infrasound (~90 dB peak). No significant effects on objective sleep measures (polysomnography: wake after sleep onset, arousals, stages), cognition, stress markers, or symptoms compared to sham. Audible traffic noise did disrupt sleep. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• Annoyance and symptoms: Self-reported issues correlate more with audible noise, visual impact (turbines), attitudes, and nocebo effects than infrasound alone. Meta-analyses show associations with annoyance and reported sleep problems, but objective measures often do not confirm major physiological disruption. sciencedirect.com +1
• Cardiovascular/Other: Epidemiological observations (e.g., Mainz 2026 poster) suggest higher heart failure/arrhythmia diagnoses in high-wind areas, but these are ecological studies with confounding risks. Controlled reviews generally find no consistent causal link at real-world exposures.

At high industrial or experimental intensities, infrasound can produce measurable biological effects, including on heart tissue and possibly sleep or mood. At typical environmental levels from wind turbines or daily life, controlled evidence does not support widespread direct organ damage or sleep disruption from the infrasound component alone. Annoyance and reported symptoms are real for some people and may stem from audible noise, individual sensitivity, or contextual factors.

There is research from the Infrasound Working Group at Universitätsmedizin Mainz (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz), led by cardiac surgeon Prof. Christian-Friedrich Vahl.

It builds on earlier lab work and a recent 2026 epidemiological poster presentation. While the underlying experiments are real, the extrapolation to real-world wind turbine risks at typical exposure levels remains debated and contested.

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Negative Effect of High-Level Infrasound on Human Myocardial Contractility: In-Vitro Controlled Experiment

Here’s a clear, detailed explanation of the key Mainz infrasound studies from the Infrasound Working Group at Universitätsmedizin Mainz (Johannes Gutenberg University), led by cardiac surgeon Prof. Dr. Christian-Friedrich Vahl.

1. In-Vitro (Lab) Study – Chaban et al. (2021)

Title: Negative Effect of High-Level Infrasound on Human Myocardial Contractility: In-Vitro Controlled Experiment

Published in: Noise & Health (2021)

Design:

• Used living human heart muscle tissue (right atrial trabeculae) obtained from patients undergoing heart surgery.
• For each patient, two small muscle strips were prepared: one exposed to infrasound, one as control.
• Exposed to pure sinusoidal 16 Hz infrasound (a frequency typical of modern wind turbines) for 60 minutes.
• Sound pressure levels tested: 100 dB(Z), 110 dB(Z), and 120 dB(Z).
• Muscle strips were electrically stimulated to beat at 75 beats per minute in a physiological solution.
• Measured contractile force (how strongly the muscle contracts).

Main Results:

• No significant effect at 100 dB.
• ~11% reduction in contractile force at 110 dB.
• ~18% reduction in contractile force at 120 dB.
• Effects appeared within one hour and were linked to disturbances in intracellular calcium handling and possibly mitochondrial function.
• The authors concluded that high-level infrasound interferes with heart muscle contractility.

This is a direct mechanical/cellular effect observed in isolated tissue (no whole-body physiology involved).

2. Epidemiological Poster – Vahl & Dietz (2026)

Title: Significantly Increased Incidence of Heart Failure and Arrhythmias in Municipalities with Significant Expansion of Wind Energy

Presented at: 132nd DGIM Congress (German Society for Internal Medicine), April 2026

Poster: P-15-07, Abstract ID 85384

Design (Retrospective ecological study):

• Compared two groups of municipalities in the Paderborn district (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) using health insurance data (new ICD-10 diagnoses).
• Exposed group (high wind energy): Borchen + Lichtenau (~25,550 inhabitants, 224 turbines, 533 MW as of 2024).
• Control group (low wind energy): Delbrück + Hövelhof (~49,700 inhabitants, 8 turbines, 14 MW).
• Municipalities were chosen for similarity in climate, wind conditions, demographics, socioeconomic factors, and lack of other major industrial confounders.
• Time period: 2015–2024, focusing especially on 2021–2024 after major wind expansion.
• Outcomes: New diagnoses of heart failure (I50) and arrhythmias (I49).

Key Findings (as reported):

• Statistically highly significant increases (p < 0.0001) in new heart failure diagnoses in the exposed municipalities.
• Average increase 2021–2024: 21–51% in Borchen, 20–68% in Lichtenau (control = 100% reference).
• Similar significant increases for life-threatening arrhythmias.
• Authors attribute this to infrasound exposure from the turbines.

Overall Interpretation by the Mainz Group

They combine the lab evidence (direct negative effect on heart muscle at high infrasound levels) with the real-world epidemiological data to argue that the massive expansion of wind energy is associated with measurable increases in serious cardiovascular disease. They call for public information, further research, and stricter infrasound regulations.

Important Context and Limitations

• The lab study used very high sound levels (110–120 dB) that are much higher than typical residential exposures near wind turbines (often <60–80 dB, frequently near background levels).
• The 2026 poster is an ecological study (area-level comparison, not individual data). It cannot prove causation and is subject to potential confounders (lifestyle, healthcare differences, etc.).
• It remains a conference poster, not yet a full peer-reviewed publication.
• Broader scientific consensus and controlled studies (e.g., long-term simulated infrasound exposure trials) have generally not confirmed clinically relevant harm at real-world wind turbine distances.

Here is a clear, accurate English translation of the poster (DGIM 2026, Abstract ID 85384):

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DGIM 2026, Poster No. P-15-07, Abstract ID: 85384
132nd Congress of the German Society for Internal Medicine (DGIM)

P-15-07: Significantly Increased Incidence of Heart Failure and Arrhythmias in Municipalities with Substantial Expansion of Wind Energy

Christian-Friedrich Vahl and Oliver Dietz
(Infrasound Working Group, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz)

Background

Experimental studies on isolated human myocardium demonstrated reductions in contractility and rhythm-relevant changes in intracellular calcium metabolism following infrasound exposure. The aim of the current epidemiological study was to investigate whether changes in myocardial health due to low-frequency sound (including infrasound) are detectable under “real-life” conditions. The incidence of the target parameters “heart failure” and “arrhythmias” was to be compared in two populations with high versus negligible exposure to the potential noxious agent.The study design required a retrospective approach with respect to both investigators and subjects, with neutral blinded data collection in a target region characterized by the forced installation of new-generation wind turbines during the observation period.

Methods

From an epidemiological perspective, the retrospective, diagnostically blinded study design required two populations with at least 18,000 exposed individuals each for comparative analysis. Comparable climatic conditions (including prevailing wind directions and intensities), comparable ethnic composition, age and gender structure, and comparable socioeconomic parameters were required. The absence of other cardiovascular interfering noxious agents had to be ensured (nuclear power plants, chemical plants, aircraft noise, large construction sites, etc.).

Through elaborate systematic socio-geographical analysis, it was possible to identify four municipalities in the district of Paderborn (Germany) that fulfilled the statistically required inclusion criteria:

• The town of Lichtenau and the municipality of Borchen were identified as significantly burdened by wind energy-associated infrasound exposure (as of 2024: 533 MW, 224 wind turbines).
• The municipality of Hövelhof and the town of Delbrück formed the low-exposure control group (14 MW, 8 wind turbines).

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians Westphalia-Lippe provided the case numbers for new cardiovascular diseases in these municipalities.

Control group: Delbrück and Hövelhof (n ≈ 49,700)
Test population: Borchen and Lichtenau (n ≈ 25,550)

Results

Exposed residents (minimum number in the observation period):

• Town of Lichtenau (min. n = 11,900)
• Municipality of Borchen (min. n = 13,650)
• Municipality of Hövelhof (min. n = 17,000)
• Town of Delbrück (min. n = 32,700)
  (Observation period: calendar years 2015–2024)

The ICD codes I49 (cardiac arrhythmias, life-threatening) and I50 / I50.1 (heart failure) were evaluated. In Borchen, there was a significant increase in the incidence of newly diagnosed heart failure compared to Delbrück (p < 0.0001), and similarly in Lichtenau (p < 0.0001). On an annual average basis for 2021–2024, the increase was between 21% and 51% in Borchen and between 20% and 68% in Lichtenau. For “life-threatening arrhythmias,” the incidence in the exposed group was also significantly elevated (p < 0.0001).

The figures (in the original poster) show the incidences with the control group as the 100% reference.

Conclusion

The data show, using the example of the Paderborn region, a significantly increased risk of new cardiovascular disease in municipalities with massive expansion of wind energy. Therefore, appropriate measures must be taken immediately to systematically inform the exposed population about the risk of arrhythmias and heart failure so that timely therapeutic measures can be initiated. Research funding should be provided for detailed studies to precisely define the threshold values for infrasound exposure that require public notification.

Acknowledgements: The authors thank Prof. Philipp Wild (Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, Gutenberg Health Study, Mainz, JGU) for his conceptual support.