Physicochemical and Microbiological Basis for Testing the Toxic Factors of Thermal Mineral Waters

Abstract

The considerable resources of thermal mineral water of the Paratunskoe Deposit are used in heating systems and balneology. The exhaust water enters a mud-bath water body as feed water. Of interest is the effect of chemical factors of thermal water on the ecological state of the silt sulfide therapeutic mud (peloid). The proportion of thermal water in the feed water of the lake reaches 40%. The effect of thermal water on the peloid structure is simulated by their different concentration used to activate the peloid by liquefaction, heating, mixing, and appropriate oxygen regime (aerobic or anaerobic). The ecological effect of thermal mineral water manifests itself in changes in mud solution chemistry, as well as in the total number of autochthonous microorganisms, and the development of their physiological and geochemical activity. The level of ecological activation is characterized by the number of microorganisms, their physiological activity, physicochemical changes in the mud solution (pH and Eh), as well as the concentration of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. Small doses are found to have a stimulating effect, while the high proportion of thermal water was found to suppress the geochemical activity of microorganisms. The ecological groups and the lines of physiological activities of microorganisms tolerant to the effect of toxic factors of thermal waters were identified.