Health Effects of Microplastics Spread by Delaminating Turbine Blades

March 13, 2023
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Wind turbine blades are made of fiberglass and are held together with epoxy resin. The epoxy resin contains bisphenol phosphate (BPAs). These particles are commonly known as microplastics, and they are spread through the air by the wind turbines as they delaminate over time (1). These invisible particles then end up in crops, grass and watersheds, which are then ingested by domestic and wild animals and end up in our food supply. For that reason alone, it makes no sense placing these turbines in farm fields where crops are grown and domestic and wild animals forage.


The detrimental health effects of these microplastics on humans has already been well documented. Microplastics are known hormone disruptors and mimic estrogen, androgens and testosterone in the body, increasing the risk of hormone dependent cancers. According to the American Cancer Society’s 2023 Cancer Statistics, prostate cancer has increased 3% annually from 2014-2019 after a 20-year decline (2). A recently published long term study conducted in Spain revealed the higher the level of serum BPA in the blood the higher the risk of prostate cancer (3).


Valid studies are starting to be published on the effects of these microplastics on pregnant women and children. Pregnant women’s developing babies, infants and children are all disproportionately affected by the toxins in microplastics due to their smaller body size. They are being absorbed in the body at a critical time in the development of neurobehavioral, immune, metabolic, cardiac and other systems (4). What we do know at this point is there has been a staggering increase in neurodevelopmental disorders in children in the US over the last 30 years. For the sake of future generations, and those already living with the effects of neurodevelopmental disabilities and hormone dependent cancers (along with many other diseases), we need to rethink adding more microplastics to the environment, particularly where our food is grown.

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