Berichte des Meteorologischen Instituts

der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

Nr. 20

Andreas Matzarakis, Helmut Mayer

and Frank-M. Chmielewski (Eds.)

Proceedings of the

7th Conference on Biometeorology

Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Germany

12-14 April 2010

Freiburg, April 2010

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ISSN 1435-618X

Copyright reserved, particularly rights of reproduction, distribution and transla-tion

Self-publishing company of the Meteorological Institute, Albert-Ludwigs-Univer-sity of Freiburg, Germany

Print: Printing office of the Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg

Editor: Prof. Dr. Helmut Mayer

Meteorological Institute, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Frei-burg

Werthmannstr. 10, D-79085 Freiburg, Germany

Tel.: +49/761/203-3590; Fax: +49/761/203-3586

e-mail: meteo@meteo.uni-freiburg.de

Documentation: Ber. Meteor. Inst. Univ. Freiburg Nr. 20, 2010, 584 pp.

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Editorial

Biometeorology represents a discipline with long tradition and interdisciplinary back-ground. Therefore, it is very popular. The interactions between the atmosphere and the living environment are not only related to atmospheric exchange but also visible and sensitive from daily life to global warming issues. We have to keep in mind that climate change effects, finally, will at most influence and affect the living environment. Biome-teorology can also be seen as part of climate impact in the global warming discussion.

The 7th Conference on Biometeorology (BioMet-7) is hosted from 12-14 April 2010 at the Meteorological Institute, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Germany, in col-laboration with the Expert Committee on Biometeorology of the German Meteorologi-cal Society, the Humboldt-University of Berlin, Germany, the Society for the Promotion of Medicine-Meteorological Research in Germany, the International Society of Biome-teorology, the German Weather Service and the Central Institute of Meteorology and Geodynamics in Vienna, Austria. It will provide an excellent opportunity to present and discuss new developments, approaches and methodologies from the whole spectrum of biometeorology.

The oral and poster presentations at the auditorium of the Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg were subdivided into the fields: agricultural meteorology, animal meteorology, climate change, human-biometeorology, phenology, tourism climatology and urban bioclimate. The organisers of the Conference would like to express their thanks to the approximately 100 participants from over 30 countries. They are indebted to the authors of oral and poster presentations, the session chairs as well as the scientific and local organising committee.

In its present form, the proceedings volume contains extended abstracts of more than 80% of the presentations. The authors have the sole responsibility for the contents of their extended abstracts.

Andreas Matzarakis, Helmut Mayer and Frank-M. Chmielewski (Eds.)

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ContentsPreface 3

Agricultural Meteorology

F. J. Löpmeier, C. Frühauf: Die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf die Landwirtschaft- die Aktivitäten des Deutschen Wetterdienstes im Rahmen des Projektes ZWEK

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R. Weßnigk, J. Fildebrandt: Agrarmeteorologische Beratung des Deutschen Wetterdienstes unter spezieller Berücksichtigung von Sonderberatungen

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K.-P. Wittich, R. Becker: Klimatologische und phänologische Dürre-Indikatoren in der Agrarmeteorologie des DWD

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H. Braden: Sensitivität des agrarmeteorologischen Modells AMBETI/BEKLIMA gegenüber Änderungen der meteorologischen Randbedingungen

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T. Gerersdorfer, J. Eitzinger, E. Bahrs, C. Brandenburg: Der Beitrag von Landschaftsstrukturen (z.B. Windschutzhecken) zur Ertragssituation im Ackerbau in Ostösterreich

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R. Kumar, K. Ramesh, S. Tehria, B. Singh, R. Prasad: Crop weather interaction studies in a natural sweetener plant (Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Bertoni) in Indian Western Himalaya

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E. Grigorieva, A. Matzarakis: Growing degree days at the Russian Far East

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F.-M. Chmielewski, K. Blümel, Y. Henniges: Climate change and late frost damages to Apple Trees in Germany

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Ákos Németh: Using digital elevation models in agroclimatology: determination of potential frost-risk territories

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C. Frühauf, B. Berkelmann-Löhnertz, B. J. Loskill, A. Schaldach, H. Braden, K.-U. Gollmer, M. Forster, K.-P. Wittich: Erweiterung und Optimierung der Geisenheimer Peronospora-Prognose und Umsetzung in die Rebschutz-Praxis im Rheingau

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K.-P. Wittich, M. Kraft: Erfassung der Vegetationsentwicklung landwirtschaftlicher Bestände mit agrarmeteo-rologischen Strahlungssensoren

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E. Rahmani, A. Hense, J. Keller, P. Friederichs:The effect of climate change on agro climate zoning of wheat in Iran Authors

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H. Braden: "Guttation", Bedeutung, Beobachtung, Modellierung

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F.-M. Chmielewski, K. Blümel, A. Müller, Y. Henniges, R. W.S. Weber: Climate change and fruit growing in Germany

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J. Junk , M. El Jarroudi, F. Pogoda, T. Dubos, K. Görgen, L. Hoffmann, M. Beyer: Forecasting epidemic outbreaks of wheat leaf blotch based on meteorological parameters

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F. Xystrakis, A. Matzarakis: The importance of meteorological variables in the bias of Potential evapotranspiration estimates in Crete, southern Greece

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Animal Meteorology

J. Gaughan, J. Lees: Development of a climate stress index for dairy cows housed outside

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A. Vitali, E. Lana, F. Guizzardi, M. Amadori, U. Bernabucci, A. Nardone, N. Lacetera: Seasonal pattern of mortality and relationships between mortality and temperature humidity index in heavy slaughter pigs

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M. Fiedler, G. Hoffmann, K. von Bobrutzki, A. Matzarakis:Biometeorological investigations in dairy cowsheds

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Climate Change

J. Nekovar, R. Bagar:Evaluation of global sunshine energy 1984-2008 over Czech climate station network

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A. Grätz: Stadtplanung und Klimawandel - Eine Kooperation des DWD mit der Stadtentwick-lungsverwaltung von Berlin

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B. Tinz, T. Deutschländer, B. Früh: Entwicklung der Wärmebelastung in Deutschland im 21. Jahrhundert

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H.-G. Mücke: Climate change: New health risks in the air

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P. Neumann, A. Matzarakis: Regional and local dimension of climate change: identification of the impact of climate variability and extreme events using the example of heat and drought in Baden-Württemberg

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Forest Meteorology

C. Hertel, M. Leuchner: Variability of light quality and quantity in a mixed forest stand

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T. Rötzer, H. Pretzsch: Stem water storage of Norway spruce and its possible influence on tree growth under drought stress - application of ct-scannings

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T. Rötzer, Y. Liao, H. Pretzsch: Effects of climate change and adaptation strategies for Northwest European forest stands

159

S. Röhling, T. Rötzer, H. Pretzsch: Einfluss des Klimas auf die Kohlenstoffspeicherung von Moorwäldern

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M. Fritz, U. Hera, T. Rötzer,: Klimatische Anbaueignung von Sorghumhirsen in Deutschland unter gegebenen und veränderten Klimabedingungen

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Human Biometeorology

K. Gabriel: Comparison of methods for heat determination

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G. Jendritzky, G. Havenith, P. Weihs, E. Batchvarova, R. de Dear:Universal Thermal Climate Index UTCI

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I. Thiele-Eich, S. Brienen, A. Kapala, G. Jendritzky, C. Simmer:Zukünftige thermische Komfortbedingungen in Deutschland

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I. Gospodinov, A. Tzenkova-Bratoeva:Spatial and temporal variability of the rate of change of the winter thermal comfort conditions in Bulgaria

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D. Idzikowska: Differences in bioclimatic conditions in four European cities: Budapest, Paris, Warsaw and Rome

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M. Nakayoshi, M. Kanda: Compact and wearable measurement system for Langrangian Human Biometeorology H. Staiger, A. Matzarakis: Estimating down- and up-welling thermal radiation for use in mean radiant temperature

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J. Liukaityte, J. Savanevicius: Association of meteorological factors with emergency calls of ambulance in Vilnius, Lithuania

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P. Canário, H. Andrade: Mortality spatial variations in a small scale during heat waves in Lisbon - who is at risk?

225

S. Muthers, A. Matzarakis. E. Koch: Relationship between climate and mortality in Vienna based on human-biometeorological data

229

P. T. Nastos, K. N. Giaouzaki, N. A. Kampanis, P. I. Agouridakis, A. Matzarakis: Environmental impacts on human health during a saharan episode at Crete island, Greece

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U. Kaminski: Untersuchungen zum Einfluss des Klimawandels in Deutschland auf den Start der Pollensaison, die Saisonlänge und die Pollenkonzentration der wichtigsten allergenen Pollen anhand der Pollendaten der Referenzstationen des Polleninformationsdienstes PID

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Y.-J. Choi, K.-J. Park, K. Rang Kim, H.-R. Lee, C. Yeon Yi, J.-W. Oh:Climate change and adaptation strategies for pollens in Korea

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U. Kaminski, B. Alberternst, T. Gabrio, M. Böhme, S. Nawrath, H. Behrendt: Ambrosia Pollen-Konzentrationen in Baden-Württemberg

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S. Kannabei, T. Dümmel: Ambrosia in Berlin: pollen emission, spread and control

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K. Burkart, W. Endlicher: The effect of temperature and thermal atmospheric conditions on mortality in Bangaldesh

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S. Muthers, A. Matzarakis, E. Koch: Changes in heat related mortality in Vienna based on regional climate models

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J. Maroszek, T. Morita and K. Błazejczyk:

Melatonin secretion in various climate zone

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K. Lindner: Clothing as an indicator of human thermal comfort

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J. Augustin: Climate change and skin cancer - relation and effects

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P. T. Nastos, K. Giaouzaki, N. A. Kampanis, P. Agouridakis, A. Matzarakis:

Acute coronary syndromes and biometeorological conditions at Crete island, Greece 290

P. Gebauer: The WBGT-Index – a heat index, used in international sporting events

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A. Kunert: Modeling of UTCI index in various types of landscape

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Phenology

P. Braun, M. Müller:Limits of phenological modelling in tree species

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W. Janssen: Definition des Vegetationszeitraumes über Temperatursummen

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S. Urhausen, S. Brienen, A. Kapala, C. Simmer:Zukünftige klimatische Bedingungen im Weinbau an der Obermosel

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K. Höbart, C. Czachs, C. Brandenburg, M. Pintar, E. Mursch-Radlgruber:Phänologie und Aktivitätsmuster von AmphibienE. Koch, S. Adler, W. Lipa, M. Ungersböck, S. Zach-HermannThe pan European phenological database PEP725

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Tourism Climatology

K. Zaninovic, L. Srnec, M. Patarcic, M. Percec Tadic, J. Mika, A. Nemeth:Influence of climate change on the summer tourism potential in the Pannonian basin

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H. Yilmaz, S. Yilmaz, S. Toy, N. Demircioglu Yildiz:Evaluation of climatic characteristics for tourism and recreation in a specific area, Tortum, in Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey

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R. Machete, C. Ferreira, E. Brito-Henriques, H. Andrade, J. Couto:Anticipating the impacts of climate change on tourism in Lisbon Metropolitan Area – Assessing tourist perceptions

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A. Lopes, S. Lopes, A. Matzarakis, M. J. Alcoforado:Summer sea breeze influence on human comfort in Funchal (Madeira Island). Application to urban climate and tourism planning

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R. Steiger: The impact of record warm winter seasons on ski touristic demand

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C. R. de Freitas, E. A. Grigorieva: Prediction of acclimatization thermal loading for individuals travelling between climatic extremes

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S. Yilmaz, S. Toy, H. Yilmaz: Determination of the winter human thermal comfort distributions in a ski-centre

370

C. R. de Freitas, A. Matzarakis: Gauging the sensitivity of tourism climate to change by way of an integrated thermal bioclimatic assessment scheme

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C. Endler, A. Matzarakis: Assessment of climate for tourism purposes in Germany

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E. A. Grigorieva , A. Matzarakis: Physiologically equivalent temperature in extreme climate regions in the Russian Far East

386

A. Matzarakis, T. Schneevoigt, O. Matuschek, C. Endler:Transfer of climate information for tourism and recreation – the CTIS software

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C. Ketterer, A. Matzarakis: The tourism climate of Engadin, Switzerland

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P. Schmidt, R. Steiger, A. Matzarakis:Artificial snow making in the Southern Black Forest

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R. Steiger: Climate change impact assessment in winter tourism

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E. Didaskalou, P. Nastos, P. Tsartas:The climate as an important factor in a multicriteria decision analysis for the development planning of wellness tourism

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Urban Bioclimate

S. Henninger: Modifikationen des lufthygienischen Wirkungskomplexes in der ruandischen Stadt Kigali

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F. Meier, D. Scherer, J. Richters: Spatial and temporal variability of surface temperature of tree crowns in an urban environment

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433

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B.G. Heusinkveld, L.W.A. van Hove, C.M.J. Jacobs, G.J. Steeneveld, J.A. Elbers, E.J. Moors, A.A.M. Holtslag: Greening of Dutch urban canyons for heat stress reductionS. Yilmaz (Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ataturk University, Turkey), Y. Bulut, S. Toy, I. Sezen: Evaluation of the relationship between air pollution and climatic elements in urban areas in the sample of Erzurum city in the respect of landscape architecture

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A. Katzschner: Calibration of thermal comfort in different climates for urban planning concerns

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Y. Y. Yan, H. Y. Cheng: Summer human thermal comfort in urban open spaces in Hong Kong

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C. Y. Yi, Y.-J. Choi, J.-H. Eum, G. H. Kim, K. R. Kim, D. Scherer, U. Fehrenbach: Development of climate analysis software for urban and environmental planning of Seoul

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L. Shashua-Bar , S. Cohen, O. Potchter, Y. Yaakov, J. Tanny, P. Bar-Kutiel: The use of street trees for heat stress mitigation in hot and arid regions. Case study: Beer Sheva, Israel

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O. Potchter, J. Holst, L. Shashua-Bar, S. Cohen, Y. Yaakov , J. Tanny, P. Bar-Kutiel, H. Mayer: Comparative study of trees impact on human thermal comfort in urban streets under hot-arid and temperate climates

467

Á. Gulyás, A. Matzarakis, J. Unger: Comparison of the urban-rural thermal comfort sensation in a city with warm continental climate

473

M. Bąkowska: Influence of air circulation and geographical factors on daily rhythm of biothermal conditions

479

H. Andrade , M. J. Alcoforado, P. Canário:Urban thermal patterns, environmental conditions associated and synoptic factors in Lisbon

485

C. Schneider, M. F. Brunk, W. Dott, H. Hofmeister, C. Pfaffenbach, C. Roll, K. Selle, K. Wachten, M. Buttstädt, K. Eßer, J. Hahmann , L. Hülsmeier, G. Ketzler, M. Klemme, A. Kröpelin, H. Merbitz, S. Michael, T. Sachsen, A. Siuda: “CITY 2020+” – assessing climate and demographic change impacts for the City of Aachen

491

T.-P. Lin, A. Matzarakis, R.-L. Hwang, Ying-Che Huang:Effect of pavements albedo on long-term outdoor thermal comfort

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N. Kantor, A. Gulyas:Area usage and thermaal sensation vs. thermal comfort conditions- outdoor thermal comfort project in Szeged, Hungary

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H. Lee, J. Holst, H. Mayer: Assessment of air quality indices in Seoul region by land use type

510

C. Kurbjuhn, V. Goldberg, A. Westbeld, Ch. Bernhofer:Impact of vegetation areas on the microclimate in the city of Dresden, Germany

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J. Herrmann, A. Matzarakis: Influence of mean radiant temperature on thermal comfort of humans in idealized urban environments

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E. Ng, A. Xipo, L. Katzschner: Urban Wind and Heat Environment in Hong Kong

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Environmental impacts on human health during a Saharan episode at Crete Island, Greece

P. T. Nastos1,2*, K. N. Giaouzaki3, N. A. Kampanis2, P. I. Agouridakis4 and A. Matzarakis5

1Laboratory of Climatology and Atmospheric Environment, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvi-ronment, University of Athens, Greece 2Institute of Applied & Computational Mathematics, Foundation for Research & Technology-Hellas, Greece 3Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece 4Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece 5Meteorological Institute, University of Freiburg, Germany

Abstract The objective of this study is to examine the relationship of the environmental variability (weather and particulate air pollution conditions) with cardiovascular and respiratory syn-dromes, in Heraklion city at the northern part of Crete Island, during a Saharan dust episode on March, 22-23 2008. Daily counts of admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory syndromes were obtained from the two main hospitals in Heraklion. The corresponding daily meteorologi-cal parameters, such as maximum and minimum air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, cloudiness and atmospheric pressure, from the meteorological station of Heraklion (Hellenic National Meteorological Service), were manipulated in multivariate analyses. Besides, the bioc-limatic conditions expressed by the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET), based on the energy balance models of the human body, are analyzed. Dust concentrations were derived from the SKIRON forecast model of the University of Athens.

The findings showed that the respiratory admissions were 3-fold than the mean daily admissions on the same day of the emergence of the Saharan dust episode (key day). The admissions con-cerning the cardiovascular syndromes did not appear any significant change. The analysis of the bioclimatic conditions on the key day revealed that thermal stress existed and this may be attri-buted mainly to the geomorphology of the island which is responsible for extreme weather con-ditions.

1. Introduction Changes in the frequencies of extreme heat and cold and the profile of local or trans-boundary air pollution and aeroallergens would directly affect human health. These en-vironmental changes are caused in specific cases by miscellaneous phenomena, such as Föhn winds - hot and dry winds - associated with extreme bioclimatic conditions and Saharan dust transport. Crete Island (Fig. 1), being in the Southeastern Mediterranean basin is affected by frequent Saharan dust episodes, resulting in very high particulate matter (PM) concentrations, which are associated with either short or long term effects on human health.

Long-term particulate matter exposure is connected with accelerated heart and lung dis-ease because it contributes to pulmonary and systemic oxidative stress, inflammation, sybclinical chronic inflammatory lung injury, atherosclerosis and increased risk of ischemic heart disease and death (Pope et al., 2004; Souza et al., 1998). But besides the problem of exposure to PM over a long period (months or years), exposures from mi-nutes to hours or days can also affect heart and lung function.

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Short term exposures result in: increased rates of myocardial infraction associated with hospital admissions or death (Pope et al., 2006; Peters et al., 2001; Sullivan et al., 2005), heart rate disturbances such as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias (Lipsett et al., 2006; Rich et al., 2006; Grigoropoulos et al., 2009) and reduced lung function with episodes of acute asthma and bronchitis (Ho et al., 2007; Nastos, 2008; Monteil et al., 2009). Many studies have shown that short-term increase in mean daily levels of PM may also precipitate acute cardiac decompensation leading to hospitaliza-tion, especially in patients with ischemic heart disease (Wellenius et al., 2005).

Fig. 1: Crete Island, Greece. Heraklion city is indicated by a rectangular frame

The present study evaluates the role of short-term increases of dust concentrations in daily counts of admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory syndromes at the wider area of Heraklion, Crete Island, Greece, during a Saharan dust episode on March, 22-23 2008.

2. Data and Analysis Daily counts of admissions for cardiovascular (acute coronary syndrome, arrhythmia, decompensation of heart failure) and respiratory (pulmonary infection, acute exacerba-tion of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute asthma crisis and syncoptic-presyncoptic) syndromes were obtained from the two main hospitals in Heraklion, dur-ing March-April 2008. The corresponding daily meteorological parameters, such as maximum and minimum air temperature, air humidity, wind speed, cloudiness and at-mospheric pressure, were acquired from the meteorological station of Heraklion (Hel-lenic National Meteorological Service. Besides, the bioclimatic conditions expressed by the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET), based on the energy balance models of the human body, are analyzed (Matzarakis et al., 1999). Dust concentrations were derived from the SKIRON forecast model of the University of Athens, while daily composite anomalies (reference period: 1968-1996) of the air temperature and vector wind from the middle to the lower atmospheric levels (500hPa – mean sea level) on March, 23 2008, calculated from the reanalysis datasets of the National Centers for En-vironmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) (Kalnay et al., 1996).

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3. Results and Discussion The examined Saharan dust episode affected Crete Island firstly at noon on March, 22 2009 and became more appreciable the next day, as it is depicted in Fig. 2, where the aerosol optical thickness, the dust concentration (μg m-3) at 10 m and the dry deposition (mg m-2) over the wider area of Heraklion are presented from the SKIRON forecast model of the University of Athens.

Fig. 2: Output (dustgram) from SKIRON forecast model of the University of Athens, concerning aerosol optical thickness, dust concentration at 10m, dry and wet deposition over Heraklion, Crete on March, 22-27 2008

High values of dust concentrations (252 μgm-3) appeared over the city causing an as-phyxiating environment. Moreover, the south-eastern wind blow was the main factor for extreme bioclimatic conditions, which could be attributed to the Föhn phenomenon, a normal situation under these synoptic conditions. The daily composite anomaly (reference period: 1968-1996) of the air temperature from the middle to the lower atmospheric levels (500hPa – mean sea level) on March, 23 2008 (Fig. 3) revealed that positive anomalies (~ +5 oC at the 500hPa isobaric level, ~ +12 oC at the 850 hPa isobaric level, ~ +7oC at surface) appear. Additionally, high posi-tive daily composite anomalies of south-eastern winds (~ +25 m/s at the 500 hPa isobar-

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ic level, ~ +17 m/s at the 850 hPa isobaric level, ~ +10m/s at surface) show the strong transport of Saharan dust over Crete area.

Fig. 3: Daily composite anomalies (reference period: 1968-1996) of air temperature

(left graphs) and vector wind (right graphs) for 500 hPa level (upper graphs),

850hPa level (middle graphs) and surface (lower graphs) on March, 23 2008,

calculated from the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data

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Fig. 4: Daily admissions concerning respiratory (upper graph) and cardiovascular (lower graph) syndromes at Heraklion, Crete Island, in March-April 2008

As far as the bioclimatic conditions are concerned, the physiologically equivalent tem-perature (PET), estimated from RAYMAN model (Matzarakis et al., 2007), reached 29.3 oC at 13:00 UTC on March, 23 2008, giving evidence of moderate heat stress at the beginning of Spring season, when Saharan dust episodes are more frequent (Kosmopou-los et al., 2008). The daily counts of admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory syndromes, which were obtained from the two main hospitals in Heraklion city, are depicted in Fig. 4. It is clear the impact of the Saharan dust episode in the increased incidence of respiratory

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syndromes, giving evidence that high dust concentrations, which are associated with high PMs concentrations (Mitsakou et al., 2008), trigger respiratory syndromes out-break. The daily counts were approximately 5-fold than the mean daily counts (6.6 ad-missions) on the same day of the emergence of the Saharan dust episode. On the other hand, it seemed not to be any significant increase in the cardiovascular syndromes attri-buted to the Saharan episode. Cardiovascular syndromes appeared high variability with-in the examined period.

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to acknowledge the NOAA/ESRL Physical Sciences Division, Boulder Colorado, for the provided daily composite images and the Atmospheric Mod-eling and Weather Forecasting Group (AM&WFG), School of Physics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens for the output of SKIRON model on March, 23 2008. 5. Conclusions

The Saharan dust episode on March, 22-23 2009 affected Crete Island, Greece, estab-lishing moderate heat stress bioclimatic conditions and increased dust concentrations over Heraklion city (case study). These outdoor factors linked to respiratory syndromes outbreak, while cardiovascular syndromes were not associated with high dust concentra-tions resulted from Saharan episode.

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ISBN 978-1-4020-6876-8 e-ISBN 978-1-4020-6877-5, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4020-6877-5, Library of Congress Control Number: 2007942723, 173-188.

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Rich, D., M. Mittleman, M. Link, J. Schwartz, H. Luttmann-Gibson, P. Catalano, F. Speizer, D. Gold, D. Dockery, 2006: Increased risk of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation episodes associated with acute increases in ambient air pollution. Environmental Health Perspectives 114, 120-123.

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Wellenius, G., T. Bateson, M. Mittleman, J. Schwartz, 2005: Particulate Air Pollution and the rate of hospitalization for Congestive Heart Faillure among medicare Beneficiaries in Pitts-burgh, Pennsylvania. American Journal of Epidemiology 161(11), 1030-1036.

Corresponding Author’s address: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Panagiotis Nastos (nastos@geol.uoa.gr) Laboratory of Climatology and Atmospheric Environment, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvi-ronment, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis GR 157 84, Athens, Greece