223,227 research outputs found
Radon concentration in self-bottled mineral spring waters as a possible public health issue
Get PDFSince 2013, the Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom has been regulating the content of radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption. However, mineral waters are exempted from this regulation, including self-bottled springs waters, where higher radon concentration are expected. Therefore, a systematic survey has been conducted on all the 33 mineral spring waters of Lazio (a region of Central Italy) in order to assess if such waters, when self-bottled, may be of concern for public health. Waters have been sampled in two different ways to evaluate the impact of bottling on radon concentration. Water sampling was possible for 20 different spring waters, with 6 samples for each one. The results show that 2 (10%) of measured mineral spring waters returned radon concentrations higher than 100 Bq L−1, i.e., the parametric value established by the Council Directive. These results, if confirmed by other surveys involving a higher number of mineral spring waters, would suggest regulating also these waters, especially in countries like Italy for which: (i) mineral water consumption is significant; (ii) mineral concession owners generally allow the consumers to fill bottles and containers, intended for transport and subsequent consumption, directly from public fountains or from fountains within the plant; (iii) the consumers’ habit of drinking self-bottled mineral water is widespread
Natural mineral waters: chemical characteristics and health effects.
Get PDFWater contributes significantly to health and a daily intake of 1.5 to 2 liters of water should be guaranteed, because a good hydration is essential to maintain the body water equilibrium, although needs may vary among people. However, worldwide population is far from the Recommended Allowance for water intake. Among the waters for human uses, there are ‘waters (treated or not), intended for drinking, used for the food and beverages preparation or for other domestic purposes’ and natural mineral waters, that are ‘originated from an aquifer or underground reservoir, spring from one or more natural or bore sources and have specific hygienic features and, eventually, healthy properties’. According to the European Legislation (2009/54/EC Directive), physical and chemical characterization is used to make a classification of the different mineral waters, basing on the analysis of main parameters. Mineral composition enables to classify natural mineral waters as bicarbonate mineral waters, sulphate mineral waters, chloride mineral waters, calcic mineral waters, magnesiac mineral waters, fluorurate mineral waters, ferrous mineral waters and sodium-rich mineral waters. Although the concerns about bottled mineral waters (due to plasticizers and endocrine disruptors), many are the health effects of natural mineral waters and several studies explored their properties and their role in different physiological and pathological conditions
Geochemistry of As-, F- and B-bearing waters in and around San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina, and implications for drinking and irrigation water quality
Get PDFSpring, stream and tap waters from in and around San Antonio de los Cobres, Salta, Argentina, were sampled to characterize their geochemical signatures, and to determine whether they pose a threat to human health and crops. The spring waters are typical of geothermal areas world-wide, in that they are Na-Cl waters with high concentrations of Astot, As(III), Li, B, HCO3, F and SiO2 (up to 9.49, 8.92, 13.1, 56.6, 1250, 7.30 and 57.2 mg L-1, respectively), and result from mixing of deep Na-Cl brines and meteoric HCO3-rich waters. Springs close to the town of San Antonio have higher concentrations of all elements, and are generally cooler, than springs in the Baños de Agua Caliente. Spring water chemistry is a result of mixing of deep Na-Cl brines and meteoric HCO3 waters. Stream waters are also Na-Cl type, and receive large inputs of all elements from the springs near San Antonio, but concentrations decrease downstream through the town of San Antonio due to mineral precipitation. The spring that is used as a drinking water source, and other springs in the area, have As, F and B concentrations in excess of WHO and Argentinian drinking water guidelines. Evaluation of the waters for irrigation purposes suggests that their high salinities and B concentrations may adversely affect crops. The waters may be improved for drinking and irrigation by dilution with cleaner meteoric waters, mineral precipitation or by use of commercial filters. Such recommendations could also be followed by other settlements that draw drinking and irrigation waters from geothermal sources
Project solution for water use from the catchment area on Kozuf, Republic of Macedonia
Get PDFIn this paper will be show possible use of mineral waters from the catchment area on the
mountain Kozuf. Project solution for using the mineral waters of this area, despite the
general part gives way to the exploitation of mineral waters, technical - economic
assessment of exploitation and environmental protection. Exploitation of mineral waters
will be carried out from the catchment facilities - capturing the springs Bukata, Stenata and
Studena Voda - Rimjanka and the captured water through the pipeline will be carry to the
collection tank and from there will be distribute to the factory for filling water
Boron Contents of German Mineral and Medicinal Waters and Their Bioavailability in Drosophila melanogaster and Humans
Get PDFScope Boron is a trace element that naturally occurs in soil, making mineral and medicinal water important contributors to overall intake. Thus, in a systematic screening, the mean boron concentrations of 381 German mineral and medicinal waters are determined. Methods and results Boron concentrations in mineral and medicinal waters are analyzed by inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Highest boron values find in waters from the southwest of Germany. The boron content of the waters is positively correlated with the concentration of most other analyzed bulk elements, including calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium. Mineral waters with either low (7.9 µg L-1 ), medium (113.9 µg L-1 ), or high (2193.3 µg L-1 ) boron content are chosen for boron exposure experiments in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and humans. In flies, boron-rich mineral water significantly increases boron accumulation, with the accumulation predominantly occurring in the exoskeleton. In humans, serum boron and 24-h urinary boron excretion significantly increase only in response to the intake of boron-rich mineral water. Conclusion Overall, the current data demonstrate that mineral and medicinal waters vary substantially in the content of boron and that boron-rich mineral water can be used to elevate the boron status, both in flies and humans
Hydrogeochemical Features of Some Mineral Waters at the Contact between Harghita Mts. (Eastern Carpathians) and the Transylvanian Basin
Get PDFAbstractThe study area, located at the contact zone between the Harghita Mountains and the Transylvanian Basin is well known for the abundance and diversity of mineral water springs. These mineral waters are used by the local people for drinking and also as Spas. This paper focuses on the mineral waters of some traditional Spas from this area, Odorheiu Secuiesc (Seiche Spa, Kápolnás Spa or Solymossy Spa), Upper Vârghiş Valley (Selters Spa and Nádasszék Spa) and Chirui Spa. The aim of the present work is to characterize the mineral waters based on the quantification of chemical content and also to establish correlations between the geological structure and the water's chemical composition. The geological setting and tectonics have a large influence on the chemical composition of mineral waters. Two main water types can be described, mineral waters of Na+ – Cl- type, present at Odorheiu Secuiesc, Kápolnás Spa and of HCO3- type with no dominant cation at Chirui Spa. The mineral waters located on a fault at Odorhei Seiche Spa have high CO2 values. Possible mixing zones might be identified between the two types which are present in the Upper Vârghiş Valley where mineral waters of Na+ – HCO3-– Cl- type are present except one source, which is of Na+ – Cl- type. The mixing is reflected not only by the chemical composition, but also by the quantity of dissolved CO2. The present paper deals with all the existing mineral water springs in the area providing information in a high resolution about the local hydromineral system
The composition of mineral waters sourced from Europe and North America in respect to bone health: composition of mineral water optimal for bone
Get PDFThe consumption of mineral waters is increasing in industrialised countries. High intakes of Ca and other alkalising cations as well as a low acid intake are beneficial to bone. We examined which components of mineral waters are conditioning their Ca content and their alkalinising power, in order to define the optimal profile. European mineral waters were randomly selected on the Internet: 100 waters with less than 200mg Ca/l (9·98mEq/l) and fifty with more than 200mg/l, all with complete data for SO4, P, Cl, Na, K, Mg and Ca, and most also for HCO3. For comparison, forty North American mineral waters were randomly chosen. The potential renal acid load (PRAL) was calculated for each mineral water. North American waters did not reveal significant results because of their low mineralisation. We performed correlations between all eight components in order to explore the properties of the mineral waters. In the European waters, twenty-six out of twenty-eight correlations showed a P value of ≤0·01. In waters with PRAL >0 (acidifying waters), PRAL was positively correlated with SO4, Ca, K and Mg (P<0·001). In those with PRAL <0 (alkalinising waters), PRAL was negatively correlated with HCO3, Na, Mg, Ca, K, Cl and SO4 (P<0·001). SO4 and HCO3 were not found together in high quantities in the same water for geochemical reasons. A high Ca content is associated with either a high SO4 or a high HCO3 content. SO4 theoretically increases Ca excretion, while HCO3 and low PRAL values are associated with positive effects on bone. Therefore, the best waters for bone health are rich in both HCO3 and Ca, and by consequence low in SO
Обоснование критериев оценки биологической активности минеральных вод
Get PDFАвтори під час проведення порівняльного аналізу біологічної дії борвміщуючих мінеральних вод різної мінералізації виявила якісну та кількісну однаковість їх впливу. Інтегративні показники властивостей мінеральних вод, що використовуються на сьогоднішній день, не пояснюють виявлені особливості дії. Автори роблять висновок, що застосування відносних показників властивостей мінеральних вод, прив’язаних до 1 граму мінеральних речовин, які містяться у воді, дозволить більш точно оцінювати властивості мінеральних вод.Authors, carrying out the comparative analysis of biological action of the boron containing mineral waters of a different mineralization, have found out qualitative and quantitative similarity of their influence. Used for today integrate indicators of properties of mineral waters do not explain the taped features of action. Authors come to conclusion that transition to relative indicators of properties of the mineral waters, adhered to 1 gram of the mineral substances containing in water, allows to estimate properties of mineral waters more precisely
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