Is the miligram´s expression of mineral content the objective basis in evaluation of curative waters effects ? Čársky J. – Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical Faculty of Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia Čársky J. – Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical Faculty of Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia Zálešáková J. – Slovak Spa Association, Slovakia Zálešáková J. – Slovak Spa Association, Slovakia

NATURAL HEALING WATERS (definition) Due to their CHEMICAL COMPOSITION and their physical qualities they produce therapeutical effects to be used for prevention, curative therapies and rehabilitation Due to their CHEMICAL COMPOSITION and their physical qualities they produce therapeutical effects to be used for prevention, curative therapies and rehabilitation

HEALING WATER IS A PHYSICO- CHEMICAL SYSTEM with this properties: osmolarity π = i.c.RT osmolarity π = i.c.RT ionic strainght I = ½  c i. z i 2 ionic strainght I = ½  c i. z i 2 activity of present ions a = f.c i activity of present ions a = f.c i chemical potential of present ions chemical potential of present ions acidity equlibrium acidity equlibrium redox equilibrium redox equilibrium All properties are determineted by concentration of individual compounds expresed as All properties are determineted by concentration of individual compounds expresed as c = mol/l

IONIC STRENGTH expreses total concentration solution´s ionic charge expreses total concentration solution´s ionic charge determines chemical properties of solutions more objective than total mineralization determines chemical properties of solutions more objective than total mineralization has essential influence to ionic activity in solution (reaction´s velocity by decreasing of water´s medium activity) has essential influence to ionic activity in solution (reaction´s velocity by decreasing of water´s medium activity) increases solubility of poorly solubile ionic compounds increases solubility of poorly solubile ionic compounds

IONIC STRENGTH OF SOLUTIONS I = ½  c i. z i 2 I = ½  c i. z i 2 c i – concentration of single ions (mol/l) c i – concentration of single ions (mol/l) z i – charge of single ions z i – charge of single ions Examples: I = 0,1 mol/l NaCl = 0,1 Examples: I = 0,1 mol/l NaCl = 0,1 Ca(HCO 3 ) 2 = 0,3 Ca(HCO 3 ) 2 = 0,3 NaHCO 3 = 0,1 NaHCO 3 = 0,1 CaSO 4 = 0,4 CaSO 4 = 0,4

mmol/l mg/l Li + 14, Na + 4, K + 2, Mg 2+ 4, Ca 2+ 2,5 100 Fe 2+ 1, Cl - 2, F - 5, I - 0,8 100 SO , HCO 3 - 1, HSˉ 3, NO 3 - 1, CO 2 2, H 2 S 2,93 100

total mineralization ionic strength 1 – Bojnice Ca 2+ / HCO – Korytnica Ca 2+ / SO – Smrdáky Na + / HCO – Turčianske Teplice Ca 2+ / HCO – Vyšné Ružbachy Ca 2+ / HCO – Trenčianske Teplice Ca 2+ / SO – Dudince Na + Ca 2+ Mg 2+ / Cl - SO 4 2- SH - VALUE OF TOTAL MINERALIZATION AND IONIC STRENGTH OF SOME HEALING WATERS

CONCLUSION Characterization of physico – chemical properties, biological and curative effects of healing waters is more objective by expression of compound´s concentration Characterization of physico – chemical properties, biological and curative effects of healing waters is more objective by expression of compound´s concentration in mol/L (mmol/L) than in mg/L in mol/L (mmol/L) than in mg/L