Spa environments in central Serbia: Geothermal potential, radioactivity, heavy metals and PAHs.

This study aims to estimate geothermal potential, radioactivity levels, and environmental pollution of six most popular spas in Central Serbia (Ovcar, Gornja Trepca, Vrnjacka, Mataruska, Bogutovacka and Sokobanja), as well as to evaluate potential exposure and health risks for living and visiting population. Thermal possibilities of the studied spas showed medium and low geothermal potential with total thermal power of 0.025 MW. Gamma dose rates in air varied from 63 to 178 nSv h-1. Specific activities of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) and 137Cs in soil were measured; annual effective doses and excess lifetime cancer risk from radionuclides were calculated. Radon concentration in thermal-mineral waters from the spas ranged between 1.5 and 60.7 Bq L-1 (the highest values were measured in Sokobanja). The annual effective dose from radon due to water ingestion was calculated. The analyzed soils had a clay loam texture. The presence of As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Hg in soil was investigated. The concentrations of As, Cr, Ni, and Hg exceeded the regulatory limits in many samples. Soil samples from Mataruska spa were generally the most contaminated with heavy metals, while the lowest heavy metal concentrations were observed in Sokobanja. Health effects of exposure to heavy metals in soil were estimated by non-carcinogenic risk and carcinogenic risk assessment. Total carcinogenic risk ranged between 6 × 10-4 and 137 × 10-4 for children and between 0.1 × 10-4 and 2.2 × 10-4 for adults. The sum of 16 PAHs analyzed in soil samples varied from 92 to 854 µg kg-1.

Safety Evaluation of Fluoride Content in Tea Infusions Consumed in the Azores-a Volcanic Region with Water Springs naturally Enriched in Fluoride.

Tea is the second most commonly consumed beverage in the world. It is well recognized that the consumption of tea in high quantities can promote the development of fluorosis. The main objective of this study is to estimate the exposure to fluoride in the Azores through drinking tea prepared with water from different volcanic locations, by i) investigating the fluoride (F) content of various commercial brands of tea (Camellia sinensis) marketed in Azores and ii) comparing tea releasing rates of F according to brewing time, considering the fluoride concentration in the different types of water used for the infusion. Fluoride contents were determined by ion-selective electrode in 30 samples of drinking water from three different locations and in 450 samples of tea (black and green tea) from three different brands. Fluoride concentration in water ranged from 0.29 to 1.56 ppm (Porto Formoso and Sete Cidades village, respectively). Fluoride concentrations increased with brewing time, reaching the highest values in the Azorean black and green tea infusions. For all the studied brands, a negative correlation was found between tea fluoride contents and the pH of the water used to prepare the infusion. Fluoride concentration in infusions was significantly associated with the background fluoride concentration in drinking water. Since the fluoride concentration in groundwater varies accordingly to the geological conditions and tea consumption can contribute to fluoride intake, it is important to define the limits for tea consumption, particularly in fluoride-rich areas. Graphical Abstract Fluoride concentrations in black and green tea for 3 minutes of brewing time and, association between fluoride concentration and pH with brewing time.

Balneario de San Nicolás de Alhama (Almería). Historia y generalidades / The San Nicolás de Alhama's Spa (Almería). History and generalities

Se hace una reseña de la situación geográfica del Balneario de San Nicolás, de los antecedentes históricos del mismo y situación actual, así como de sus aguas minero‐medicinales, sus propietarios, el primer análisis realizado por un farmacéutico, la dirección médica y los pacientes que le han frecuentado (AU)

An a ccount of the geographical position of Alhama de Almería'Spa is given, including a brief history of it and its situation nowdays. An particularly reference it is made about the minero‐medicinal waters of this Spa, their proprietaries, the pharmacist who made the first chemical analysis, the sanitary direction and the patients frequented it (AU)

Therapeutic properties in Tunisian hot springs: first evidence of phenolic compounds in the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. biomass, capsular polysaccharides and releasing polysaccharides.

BACKGROUND: In Tunisia, the use of hot spring waters for both health and recreation is a tradition dating back to Roman times. In fact, thermal baths, usually called "Hammam" are recommended as a therapeutic and prophylactic measure against many types of illness and toxicity. While the chemical concentration of thermal water is admittedly associated with its therapeutic effects, the inclusion in spa waters of efficient bioproduct additives produced by photosynthetic microorganisms and that act against oxidative stress may comprise a significant supplementary value for thermal centers. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant potential of the Tunisian thermophilic cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. and to determine its phytochemical constituents and phenolic profile. METHODS: BME (Biomass Methanolic Extract), CME (Capsular polysaccharides Methanolic Extract) and RME (Releasing polysaccharides Methanolic Extract) of Leptolyngbya sp. were examined for their antioxidant activities by means of DPPH, hydroxyl radical scavenging and ferrous ion chelating assays. Their total phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and vitamin C contents, as well as their phenolic profiles were also determined. RESULTS: BME has the highest content of phenols (139 ± 1.2 mg/g), flavonoids (34.9 ± 0.32 mg CEQ/g), carotenoids (2.03 ± 0.56 mg/g) and vitamin C (15.7 ± 1.55 mg/g), while the highest MAAs content (0.42 ± 0.03 mg/g) was observed in CME. BME presented both the highest DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging ability with an IC50 of 0.07 and 0.38 mg/ml, respectively. The highest ferrous chelating capacity was detected in CME with an IC50 = 0.59 mg/ml. Phenolic profiles revealed the presence of 25 phenolic compounds with the existence of hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, resveratrol and pinoresinol. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. possesses abundant natural antioxidant products which may have prophylactic and therapeutic effects on many types of illness and toxicity. The present findings not only explain and reinforce the rationale behind traditional therapeutic practices in Tunisia in the exploitation of the country's hot springs, but support the addition of Leptolyngbya to thermal waters as a means to enhance the value and reputation of the curative nature of Tunisian thermal waters.

Cuando el radón es beneficioso para la salud / When radon is beneficial to health

No disponible

Sulfur spring dermatitis.

Thermal sulfur baths are a form of balneotherapy promoted in many cultures for improvement of skin conditions; however, certain uncommon skin problems may occur after bathing in hot sulfur springs. We report the case of a 65-year-old man who presented with multiple confluent, punched-out, round ulcers with peripheral erythema on the thighs and shins after bathing in a hot sulfur spring. Histopathologic examination revealed homogeneous coagulation necrosis of the epidermis and papillary dermis. Tissue cultures showed no evidence of a microbial infection. The histopathologic findings and clinical course were consistent with a superficial second-degree burn. When patients present with these findings, sulfur spring dermatitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Moreover, the patient's clinical history is crucial for correct diagnosis.

Legionella pneumophilla bacteria in thermal saline bath.

OBJECTIVE: The study was aimed at determining whether Legionella pneumophila bacteria can be found in thermal saline waters used in balneotherapy. METHODS: Water samples were collected from three thermal saline baths, supplied by thermal saline waters (type Cl - Na). The total number of bacteria was determined in the direct microscopic count under a fluorescence microscope The numbers of bacteria belonging to different phylogenetic groups (Eubacteria, Legionella sp. and Legionella pneumophila) were determined with the use of a molecular FISH method. RESULTS: The highest average total number of bacteria as well as the highest average number of Eubacteria in the entire research cycle was recorded in bath 1. Bacteria belonging to the Legionella genus along with Legionella pneumophila were identified in all water samples collected from each bath. Moreover, biofilm containing cells of L. pneumophilla was identified in the collected water samples. CONCLUSION: The number of bacteria in water increases with the bath's age. The Legionella pneumophila can successfully develop not only in fresh water bodies but in thermal saline baths as well. Still, it is uncertain whether the commonly applied culture method, developed for freshwater bodies, is also suitable for thermal saline baths.

Elucidating the redox cycle of environmental phosphorus using ion chromatography.

Historically, it was assumed that reactive, inorganic phosphorus present in pristine environments was solely in the form of orthophosphate. However, this assumption contradicts theories of biogenesis and the observed metabolic behavior of select microorganisms. This paper discusses the role of ion chromatography (IC) in elucidating the oxidation-reduction cycle of environmental phosphorus. These methods employ suppressed-IC, coupled with tandem conductivity and electrospray mass spectrometry detectors to identify and quantify phosphorus oxyanions in natural water, synthetic cosmochemical, and biological samples. These techniques have been used to detect phosphite and orthophosphate in geothermal hot springs. Hypophosphite, phosphite, and orthophosphate have been detected in synthetic schreibersite corrosion samples, and termite extract supernatant. Synthetic schreibersite corrosion samples were also analyzed for two poly-phosphorus compounds, hypophosphate and pyrophosphate, and results show these samples did not contain concentrations above the 1.3 and 2.0 µM respective 3σ limit of detection. These methods are readily adaptable to a variety of matrices, and contribute to the elucidation of the oxidation-reduction cycle of phosphorus oxyanions in the environment. In contrast to most studies, these techniques have been used to show that phosphorus actively participates in redox processes in both the biological and geological world.

Spatial distribution of radioisotopes in the coast of Suez Gulf, southwestern Sinai and the impact of hot springs.

This work describes the concentrations of radioisotopes in soil, sediment, wild plants and groundwater in southwestern Sinai. The study area extends from Suez to Abu Rudies along the eastern part of the Suez Gulf. It included two hot springs: Ayun Musa and Hammam Faraoun. No dependence of ¹³7Cs concentrations on any of the measured sand characteristics was found, including calcium carbonate. The enrichment of ²²6Ra in Hammam Faraoun hot spring was the most prominent feature. The ²²6Ra concentration in hot springs of Ayun Musa and Hammam Faraoun were 68 and 2377 Bq kg⁻¹ for sediments, 3.5 and 54.0 Bq kg⁻¹ for wild plants and 205 and 1945 mBq l⁻¹ for the groundwater, respectively. In addition, ²²6Ra activity concentration in local sand in the area of Hammam Faraoun was ∼14 times that of Ayun Musa. On the other hand, the ²³²Th concentrations were comparable in the two hot springs, while ¹³7Cs concentrations were relatively higher in Ayun Musa. The characteristics and radioelements studies support possible suggestions that the waters in the two hot springs have different contributions of sea and groundwaters crossing different geological layers where the water-rock interaction takes place.

Mechanisms of arsenic enrichment in geothermal and petroleum reservoirs fluids in Mexico.

The lack of chemical similarity between thermal fluids in geothermal and petroleum reservoirs in Mexico indicates a distinct origin for arsenic in both types of reservoirs. Deep fluids from geothermal reservoirs along the Transmexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) are characterized by elevated arsenic concentrations, within a range between 1 and 100 mg L(-1) at a depth from 600 to 3000 m b.s.l. Based on hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), arsenic is linked to typical geothermal species like lithium, silica, and boron. The lack of correlation between arsenic and salinity reflects the importance of secondary water-rock interaction processes. The predominance of arsenic compared to Fe- and Cu-concentrations, and the occurrence of secondary minerals (sulfides and clay minerals) in temperature-dependent hydrothermal zones, supports this hypothesis. Neither magmatic fluids input, nor As mineralization is a prerequisite for As enrichment in Mexican geothermal fluids. In contrast, petroleum reservoir waters from sedimentary basins in SE-Mexico show maximum As concentrations of 2 mg L(-1), at depths from 2900 to 6100 m b.s.l. The linear chloride-arsenic correlation indicates that evaporated seawater represents the major source for aqueous arsenic in oil reservoirs, and only minor arsenic proportions are derived from interaction with carbonate host rock. Speciation modeling suggests the lack of arsenic solubility control in both geothermal and petroleum reservoirs, but precipitation/co-precipitation of As with secondary sulfides could occur in petroleum reservoirs with high iron concentrations. Geothermal fluids from magmatic-type reservoirs (Los Azufres and Los Humeros at the TMVB and Las Tres Vírgenes with a granodioritic basement) show relative constant arsenic concentrations through varying temperature conditions, which indicates that temperatures above 230-250 °C provide optimal and stable conditions for arsenic mobility. In contrast, temperature conditions for sedimentary-type reservoirs are irrelevant for water-rock interaction processes, as suggested by low arsenic aqueous concentration for both Cerro Prieto geothermal fluids (high temperature - sedimentary type) and oil field formation water (low temperature - sedimentary type).

Virus silicification under simulated hot spring conditions.

Silicification of organisms in silica-depositing environments can impact both their ecology and their presence in the fossil record. Although microbes have been silicified under laboratory and environmental conditions, viruses have not. Bacteriophage T4 was successfully silicified under laboratory conditions that closely simulated those found in silica-depositing hot springs. Virus morphology was maintained, and a clear elemental signature of phosphorus was detected by energy-dispersive X-ray spectrophotometry (EDS).

Comparative benefit of two thermal spring waters after photodynamic therapy procedure.

INTRODUCTION: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is commonly used to treat actinic keratoses, superficial cutaneous carcinoma, photodamage, and/or acne. The aim of this study was to compare the usefulness of Avène thermal spring water (ATSW), a low mineral content spring water, to a high mineral content spring water. We evaluated post-PDT clinical symptoms and findings when used as an adjunctive therapy in postprocedure skin care. METHODS: A double-blind monocentric comparative study was conducted on 25 patients suffering from either vulgaris acne or photodamage with or without actinic keratoses. The patients were treated with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) activated with an intense pulsed light and/or blue light source. Patients were randomized so that 12 patients treated their faces with ATSW and 13 were treated with a comparative water spray. Clinical signs were evaluated by the investigator at day 0, before and 15 min after the first spraying, at days 2, 4, and 7, and each day from day 0 to day 6 by patients. Clinical signs (erythema, stinging, pruritus, pain, and tightening) were evaluated by the use of a 4-point grading scale. RESULTS: The intragroup analysis showed that pain was significantly reduced by ATSW spraying at days 2, 4, and 7. The evaluation by patients showed that only ATSW alleviates pain from day 3 to day 6. The between-group analysis revealed that pruritus was significantly reduced by ATSW at day 7. Erythema, stinging, and tightening were not significantly reduced by both waters. Patients wished to continue using ATSW in 83% of cases. CONCLUSION: This comparative clinical trial demonstrates that ATSW, a low mineral content spring water, can be useful after ALA-PDT in reducing postprocedure cutaneous inflammation and patient discomfort better than a high mineral content spring water.

Radon variations during treatment in thermal spas of Lesvos Island (Greece).

The aim of this paper was to study the variations of radon and daughter nuclei during treatment in the thermal spas of Lesvos Island (Greece). For this purpose, in the thermal spas of Lesvos we have measured the radon concentrations of thermal waters, as well as indoor radon, daughter and coarse particle (>500 nm) concentration. Various instruments and procedures were employed for measurements. Radon concentrations of thermal waters were found to lie in the range 10 and 304 Bq l(-1). Concentration peaks both for radon, radon daughter and coarse particle, were found to appear during filling of baths in the treatment process. The doses delivered to the bathers during treatment were in the range of 0.00670 mSv per year to 0.1279 mSv per year, while the doses delivered to personnel were below 20 mSv per year.

Evoluçäo do termoclimatismo no Brasil: súmula histórica e suas perspectivas atuais / Evolution of the thermoclimatism in Brazil: historical abstract and its present perspectives

Estudo geral das estâncias hidro-minerais do país que mostra que, em 50 anos de aperfeiçoamento, os crenólogos brasileiros, numa açäo conjugada no campo de medicina, da química e da engenharia, com a cooperaçäo esclarecida dos Governos, prosseguem aperfeiçoando as estâncias e enaltecendo o valor curativo das fontes. Enumera as fontes hidromedicinais dos Estados de Säo Paulo, Minas Gerais e Goiás, cujos efeitos curativos já eram reconhecidos nos tempos do Brasil colonial.(MAM)