Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 220-222
Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects
Analytical Method:
The method indicated in "Vademecum II of Spanish mineral medicinal waters"
was used. Physicochemical parameters used for water classification and study of
water quality were performed 1 .
Results:
Table 1
Tap Waters Natural Mineral Waters
< 1 mg/L 4 (3.4%) 8 (8.2%)
1 to 10 mg/L 94 (80.3%) 64 (66.0%)
10 to 20 mg/L 14 (12.0%) 20 (20.6%)
>20 mg/L 5 (4.3%) 5 (5.2%)
Total 117 97
Mean 6.41 6.80
Standard Deviation 9.20 6.27
Median 3.50 4.50
Conclusions
Of the 117 tap water samples tested only one exceeded the limit of 50 mg / l.
None of the natural mineral waters tested was above the limit of 50 mg / l.
Only 19 of the samples of tap water and 25 of natural mineral samples had more
than 0 mg / L of nitrates. 17 of the tap water samples came from the Mediterranean
coast, and of the natural mineral waters, 4 were bottled in Valencia and Zaragoza
and 3 in Salamanca.
No statistically significant correlations were found between nitrate concentration
and the dry residue, nor with the sodium, calcium and magnesium cations.
References
1. Maraver F, Armijo F. Aguas mineromedicinales españolas. Análisis y Fichas.
En: Maraver F, Armijo F. Vademécum II de aguas mineromedicinales españolas.
Madrid: Ed. Complutense; 2010, 53-296.
2. Martinez I, Armijo F, San Martín J. Los nitratos en las aguas. Situación actual
de las aguas envasadas españolas. Bol. Soc. Esp. Hidrol. Med. 1994; 9(1)/27-
33.
3. San Martín J, Armijo F. Balnearios y manantiales de aguas minerales de la
provincia de Teruel. Estudio histórico-científico y proyección social y turística.
Teruel 1986; 75: 49.
4. OMS, 2003: Nitrate and in drinking-water. Documento de referencia para la
elabgoración de las Guías de la OMS para la calidad del agua potable. Ginebra
(Suiza), Organización Mundial de la Salud (WHO/SDE/WSH/03.04/56).
5. Zeman C, Beltz L, Linda M, Maddux J, Depken D, Orr J, Theran P. New questions
and insights into nitrate/nitrite and human health effects: a retrospective
cohort study of private well users' immunological and wellness status. J Environ
Health. 2011 Nov;74 (4):8-18.
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