title: Biometeorological and air quality assessment in an industrialized area of eastern Mediterranean: the Thriassion Plain, Greece.
abstract: Evidence that heat wave events are associated with poor air quality conditions and health hazards has become stronger in recent years. In this study, the impact of two heat wave episodes on human thermal discomfort and air quality is examined during summer 2007, in an industrial plain of eastern Mediterranean: the Thriassion Plain, Greece. For this purpose, two biometeorological indices-Discomfort Index (DI) and Heat Load (HL)-as well as an air quality index-Air Quality Stress Index (AQSI)-were calculated using data from seven measuring sites. A land-use map was procured in order to examine the effect of different land cover types on human thermal comfort. The results indicated high level of thermal discomfort and increased air pollution levels, while a significant correlation between the DI and the AQSI was identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Physics and Meteorology, Faculty of Physics, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mavrakis
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spanou
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pantavou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Katavoutas
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Theoharatos
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christides
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verouti
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006115:Greece; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006813:Humidity; D007221:Industry; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D010126:Ozone; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide