I READ Barry Nelson’s feature on health effects of wind turbines, “An ill wind?” (Echo Jan 15), with interest.

It may be that people suffer because the UK government’s specification for noise from wind turbines at people’s homes is significantly higher than the level that the World Health Organisation (WHO) says causes sleep disturbance.

The UK specification – ETSU-R-97 – was written in 1996 and has never been updated.

The WHO sets a much lower level for acceptable night noise, and details the damage to health resulting from noise-induced sleep disturbance. It includes increased risk of heart attack and stroke, reduced cognitive function, and increased risk of obesity, diabetes and depression.

Should people really be paying this price for small amounts of unreliably available electricity?

Helen Johnson, Appleton Wiske, Northallerton, North Yorkshire.