Occurrence of Organic Compounds in the Thermal Sulfurous Waters of Calabria, Italy

On the proper study design applicable to experimental balneology

The simple message of this paper is that it is the high time to reevaluate the strategies and optimize the efforts for investigation of thermal (spa) waters. Several articles trying to clear mode of action of medicinal waters have been published up to now. Almost all studies apply the unproven hypothesis, namely the inorganic ingredients are in close connection with healing effects of bathing. Change of paradigm would be highly necessary in this field taking into consideration the presence of several biologically active organic substances in these waters. A successful design for experimental mechanistic studies is approved.

Balneoprevention: new approaches

The present study outlines a strategy for studying application of balneotreatment in preventive medicine (balneoprevention). Prophylactic use of spa treatment and mineral water consumption can be studied using epidemiological methods in the involved population. Calculated toxicological risk of balneological treatment can be decreased by performing a complete chemical analysis (including high performance organic analyses) and specific toxicity tests of medicinal water and mud (peloid) samples.

Occurrence of soluble organic compounds in thermal waters by ion trap mass detection

Thermal waters can be regarded as worth developing because of their human health implications and, if thermal tourism is promoted, their importance to the local economy. Galicia, in the North-West of Spain, has numerous sources of thermal waters spread all over the region. They have been used for therapeutic purposes since Roman times. Ourense, with 82 sources (9 spas), is becoming one of the richest Spanish provinces in hydromineral and thermal resources. In this work, the most representative springs of thermal waters from the city of Ourense--Outariz, Chavasqueira, Tinteiro and As Burgas--were analysed in order to identify the presence of several chemical classes of soluble organic compounds responsible for their biological activity. The waters studied are hyperthermal, with temperatures ranged between 45 and 66 degrees C. Different extraction techniques, liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), solid phase extraction (SPE) and solid phase micro-extraction (SPME), combined with gas chromatography-electron impact ion trap mass spectrometry (GC-(EI)ITMS) were used to cover a wide variety of compounds. The most characteristic chemical families of extractable organic compounds detected are thoroughly discussed. Most of the substances belonging to phenol, aldehyde, esther, ketone, and elemental sulphur groups occur in all samples. Large amounts of elemental sulphur were found in Tinteiro spring, providing to this water of numerous beneficial clinical effects.