TITLE:
Days of “Zero” level geomagnetic activity accompanied by the high neutron activity and dynamics of some medical events—Antipodes to geomagnetic storms
AUTHORS:
E. Stoupel, E. S. Babayev, E. Abramson, J. Sulkes
KEYWORDS:
Geomagnetic Activity; Solar Activity; Cosmic Ray Activity; Neutron Monitor; Morbidity; Mortality
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.5 No.5,
May
27,
2013
ABSTRACT: The links of many medical-biological events with high levels
of geomagnetic activity (GMA) are widely discussed. In recent years, several
medical phenomena were described in inverse distribution by time with GMA. Also
a concurrent to GMA and solar activity force-cosmic ray activity (CRA) and
closely related high energy neutron and proton fluxes are studied as a forces
dominating at low GMA and solar activity in relation to considered medical
events. The aim of this study was to explore the distribution of some important
medical events on days with “Zero” GMA levels, accompanied by high CRA (neutron
activity). Medical event data of the Grand Baku region (more than 3 mln
inhabitants), Azerbaijan, with daily distribution on the time 1 Dec. 2002-31
Dec. 2007 was compared to daily GMA Kp indices in general (Kp > 0, 1837
days) and 34 days daily GMA indices Kp = 0. Daily CRA data was also compared
using neutron monitoring data from two stations. Daily averaged data and their
standard deviations on the mentioned GMA levels were compared and statistical
significance was established. Results revealed a significant rise in the number
of emergencies (n = 1,567,576) and total deaths number
(n = 46,360) at the days of “Zero” GMA level. These days were accompanied by
significant rise of CRA (neutron activity). For Sudden Cardiac Deaths (SCD, n =
1615) and cerebral stroke (CVA, n =10,054) the increase achieved strong trend to significance
level. Acute Myocardial Infarction occurrence (morbidity) and trauma were also
absolutely more registered at days with “Zero” GMA level, despite the small
number of such days. The average Infection numbers show an inverse relationship
with absolutely high registry at the
“Zero” GMA level days. Study linking environmental physical activity levels
and the human medical data shows that geomagnetic field variations accompanied
by the increased level of cosmic ray activity, can have either direct or indirect
adverse effects on human health and physiology, even when the magnitude of
the geomagnetic field disturbance is extremely small or even is equal to
zero. On days of “Zero” daily Kp indices describing Geomagnetic Activity, accompanied by high Cosmic Ray Activity (neutron activity), more medical emergencies and total death number
(daily) occurred. Sudden Cardiac Deaths and Cerebral Stroke numbers show
a strong trend to significant rise. Absolute increase of number of Acute
Myocardial Infarction and less Infections,
not achieving statistical significance, was also observed. These results are additional data for
considering Cosmic Ray Activity (neutron activity) as
an additional factor involved in time distribution of human medical events.