Increased Risk of Infection Resulting from Reduced Inactivation Rate of Microorganisms in Thermal Waters with High Mineral Concentrations
高矿物质浓度热水中微生物失活率降低导致感染风险增加
According to Austrian legal hygienic regulations, a test bacterium (Pseudomonas aeruginosa)
must be reduced in pool water by the power of a 3,5 log reduction within 30 seconds. As
the disinfection capability of chlorine decreases significantly with increasing pH value, the
maximum pH value for pool water is set at 7,8. Given its chemical characteristics, thermal
water, however, often has a higher natural pH value and also a high buffer capacity so that the
pH value can only be reduced by adding inadmissibly high quantities of chemicals such as
sulphuric acid.
The treatment of thermal water with high mineral concentrations leads to a reduction of the
naturally occurring CO2 content. This results in a shift of the carbonate hydrogencarbonate
balance and thus to an increase of the pH value up to 8,7 which influences the inactivation
rate of microorganisms negatively and thereby favors the survival of pathogens.
Includes 2 references, figures.