Original article Background: Prolonged

high temperatures and air pollution from wildfires often occur together, and the two may interact in their effects on mortality. However, there are few data on such possible interactions. Methods: We analyzed day-to-day variations in the number of deaths in Moscow, russia, in relation to air pollution levels and temperature during the disastrous heat wave and wildfire of 2010. corresponding data for the period 2006–2009 were used for com-parison. Daily average levels of PM10 and ozone were obtained from several continuous measurement stations. the daily number of non-accidental deaths from specific causes was extracted from official records. analyses of interactions considered the main effect of tem-perature as well as the added effect of prolonged high temperatures and the interaction with PM10. Results: the major heat wave lasted for 44 days, with 24-hour average temperatures ranging from 24°c to 31°c and PM10 level