ABSTRACT
The majority of heat waves that have been studied have been in the United States and Europe (Table 8 . 1 ) . In Athens in 1 9 8 7, a l O-day heat wave resulted in 926 deaths that were classified as heat related. However, the attributable excess mortality was estimated to be more than 2,000 [ J 3 ] . In all urban areas except Athens, a 32. 5 % increase in mortality was observed in July 1 9 8 7 compared to the average July m ortality for
been observed to increase during heat waves, particularly deaths from cardiovascular and disease. Even when evidence suggests such
arc not routinely recorded as heat related . underreporting of heat stroke deaths may occur because heat stroke is similar to other, more familiar causes of death, particularly coronary or cerebral thrombosis, (mce the body is no hot itself or in a hot environment l24,25 J . Following the Chicago heat wal/c, a committee of medical e xaminers recommended that corollers usc the following dcf:nition of a heat-related death [26] : " a death in which exposure to high ambient cemperature either caused the death or significantly contributed to it" .
