Mavrakis Anastasios, Kapsali Athanasia, Tsiros Ioannis X, Pantavou Katerina
Environmental Education, West Attica Secondary Education Directorate, Greek Ministry of Education, I. Dragoumi 24 str, 19200 Elefsina, Greece.
Department of Physics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
EuroMediterr J Environ Integr. 2021;6(1):25. doi: 10.1007/s41207-020-00237-0. Epub 2021 Jan 25.
Heatwaves-excessively hot ambient conditions that are considered a serious threat to human health-are often associated with poor air quality. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of an early heatwave episode in an industrialized plain in the eastern Mediterranean region (Thriasio, Greece) on human thermal discomfort and urban air quality. The heatwave occurred in mid (15-20) May 2020, shortly after some of the restrictions that were improsed to halt the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Greece were lifted (on 4 May). The discomfort index (DI) and the daily air quality index (DAQI) were calculated on an hourly basis throughout spring 2020 (March, April, May) using data from two stations that measure meteorological parameters and air pollutant concentrations in the Thriasio Plain. The analysis showed that the air temperature increased during 7-17 May to levels that were more than 10 °C above the monthly average value (25.8 °C). The maximum measured air temperature was 38 °C (on 17 May). The results showed a high level of thermal discomfort. The DI exceeded the threshold of 24 °C for several hours during 13-20 May. Increased air pollution levels were also identified. The average DAQI was estimated as 0.83 ± 0.1 and 1.14 ± 0.2 at two monitoring stations in the region of interest during the heatwave. Particulate matter (diameter < 10 μm) appeared to contribute significantly to the poor air quality. Significant correlations between the air temperature, DI, and AQSI were also identified.
热浪——被视为对人类健康构成严重威胁的极端炎热的环境条件——通常与空气质量差有关。本研究的目的是调查地中海东部地区（希腊的特里亚西奥）一个工业化平原上早期热浪事件对人体热不适和城市空气质量的影响。热浪发生在2020年5月中旬（15日至20日），就在希腊为遏制2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）传播而实施的一些限制措施解除后不久（5月4日）。利用特里亚西奥平原两个测量气象参数和空气污染物浓度的站点的数据，在整个2020年春季（3月、4月、5月）每小时计算一次不适指数（DI）和每日空气质量指数（DAQI）。分析表明，5月7日至17日气温升高至比月平均值（25.8℃）高出10℃以上的水平。测得的最高气温为38℃（5月17日）。结果显示热不适程度很高。5月13日至20日期间，DI超过24℃的阈值达数小时。还发现空气污染水平有所增加。热浪期间，感兴趣区域内两个监测站的平均DAQI估计分别为0.83±0.1和1.14±0.2。细颗粒物（直径<10μm）似乎对空气质量差有显著影响。还确定了气温、DI和AQSI之间的显著相关性。
