Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 202-204
Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects
biological processes in higher organisms. It seems therefore that the aging of organisms
as well as the development of cancerous tumors could be related to the degenerative
effects caused by free radicals.
Most existing studies try to see how this element influences cancer prevention
and the impact its deficiency causes.
Selenium is also related to other diseases involving tissue damage, such as Keshan
disease (heart disease), Kaschin disease (bone disease) and myxedematosus
endemic cretinism.
Nowadays medical studies are aimed to investigate the connection between selenium
and cancer, as well as with other important diseases in today's society such as
AIDS, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.
Objective: Determination of Selenium in 33 thermal mineral water springs in the
province of Ourense (Galicia), Spain, and establish its relationship with the glutathione
peroxidase enzyme.
Materials and Methods
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (2009)
Results
SOURCE Se+4 mg/L SOURCE Se+4 mg/L
Fuente de la Rañoa 0.03 Fuente del Sapo antigua 0.00
Balneario de Carballiño 0.00 Fuente del Sapo nueva 0.04
Fuente de Brués 0.01 Fuente de Villaza 0.03
Fuente de Arcos 0.00 Fuente del Carregal 0.00
Fuente de Ponterriza 0.04 Aguas de Reza 0.00
Fuente de Manzós 0.00 Balneario de Arnoia works
Antiguos baños Prexigueir 0.02 Balneario de Partovia works
Baños del Prexigueiro 0.01 Burgas de Arriba 0.02
Balneario de Berán 0.02 Burgas de Abajo caño Izdo. 0.00
Baños del Monte Cortegada 0,02 Burgas de Abajo caño dcho. 0.01
Fuente de Sás de Penelas 0.00 Burgas Jardín 0.01
Fuente de Piñeiroá 0.00 Chabasqueira pública 0.01
Balneario Baños de Molgas 0.01 Chabasqueira pozita 0.03
Fte. exterior Baños de Molga 0.00 Fuente del Tinteiro 0,00
Baños del Porteiro 0.01 Balneario de Laias 0.01
Fuente del Bañiño 0.01 Balneario de Lobios 0.00
Ponte da Y 0.04
Conclusions
The determination of selenium ranges between 0.00 mg/L and 0.04 mg/L. These
values are a consequence of an acid soil.
Some sources and spas, for their Se+4 concentration, will hydropinic favour an
increase of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase.
The cure external (baths) favours the reduction of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
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