SPACE PROTON FLUX AND THE TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DEATHS

The influence of solar activity (SA) and geomagnetic activity (GMA) on human homeostasis has long been investigated. The aim of the present study was to analyse the relationship between monthly proton flux (>90 MeV) and other SA and GMA parameters and be tween proton flux and tem poral (monthly) distribution of total and cardiovascular-related death s. The data from 180 months (1974-1989) of distribution in the Beilins on Campus of the Rabin Medical Centre, Israel, and of 108 months (1983 -1991) from the Kaunas Medical Academy, were analysed and compared wit h SA, GMA and space proton flux (>90 MeV). It was concluded: (1) month ly levels of SA, GMA and radiowave propagation (Fof2) are significantl y and adversely correlated with monthly space proton flux (>90 MeV); ( 2) medical-biological phenomena that increase during periods of low so lar and/or geomagnetic activity may be stimulated by physical processe s provoked by the concomitant increase in proton flux; (3) the monthly number of deaths related (positively or negatively) to SA are signifi cantly and adversely related to the space proton flux (>90 MeV).