Abstract: MATH/CHEM/COMP 2002, Dubrovnik, June 24-29, 2002

 

 

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE TUZLA SALT WATERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN BALNEOTHERAPY

 

Munira Mazalovic and Zorica Hodzic

 

Univesity of Tuzla, Medical Faculty, Department of Chemistry

 

 

 

Salt waters of the Tuzla Region are saturated salty solutions with sodium chloride as a dominant component. According to the results of the previous analyses these waters are classified as the sodium-calcium-magnesium-potassium-chloride-sulphurous boron mineral water. The content of biological active oligoelements (zinc, copper, chromium, sulfur, selenium) was determined. This research involved a chemical analysis of the salt water and the salty solutions that are being used in balneotherapy in the Tuzla Sanatorium "Slana banja". The analysis showed a significant content of sulfide-sulfur either in natural or in diluted salt water and we monitored its concentration in the course of balneotreatment of the patients.

The salt water chemical analyses revealed a high concentration of chloride (175000 mg/L), sulfate (6300 mg/L), boron (170 mg/L), magnesium (110.11 mg/L) and sulfide-sulfur (41.34 mg/L). The content of the same components decreased to one third in the diluted salt water.

The concentration of fluoride (>0.1 mg/L), copper (1.25 mg/L), zinc (0.45 mg/L) and selenium (>0.01mg/L) are not significant from the aspect of balneology. Sulfide-sulfur losses due to evaporation and possible oxidation in the course of balneotreatment (11.70%) were evidenced. In spite of this, sulfide-sulfur concentration in the salt water being used in balneotherapy, is higher than the minimal highest concentrations required for its penetration (9.43 mg/L).

The results obtained give new information on the Tuzla salt waters quality and they can also be characterized as sulfide-mineral water (sulfur-bath) according to the classification of mineral-curing waters. This research is a contribution to the researches on the Tuzla salt waters in the light of balneotherapy, and gives a new significance to these waters as a natural factor of medical rehabilitation.


1 O. Hillebrand, Handbuch fuer den Kurarzt, Wien, 1995.

2 M. Mazalovic, A. Crnkic, Z. Hodzic, LJ. Tinjic, Acta Med.  Sal. 23 (1994) 15-20.