THE EXTREME HEAT-WAVE IN ATHENS IN JULY 1987 FROM THE POINT-OF-VIEW OF HUMAN BIOMETEOROLOGY

At the end of July 1987 a heat wave came over Greece and had as a consequence an increase in the mortality to double the normal values. Predicted mean vote (PMV), physiologically equivalent temperature (PET), and for comparison discomfort index (DI) as thermal indices as well as core temperature, mean skin temperature, and skin wetness as body parameters are calculated for that period based on meteorological data of the Meteorological Institute of the National Observatory in the centre of Athens and of the suburban station New Philadelphia of the Hellenic National Weather Service. The results for the thermal indices and the body parameters indicate a very high thermal stress on people. In addition, the air quality stress index (AQSI) has been used for characterizing air quality conditions in Athens during the heat wave. The results for AQSI show comparatively high air pollution in the centre of Athens in the period of the heat wave. Combined with the thermal effects of the heat wave the stress on humans due to environmental conditions has been very injurious to health.