An assessment of the physicochemical and microbiological stability of bottled natural medicinal waters from Polish health resorts

Joanna Ziemska; Marta Bartosik; Tomasz Szynal; Małgorzata Mazańska; Renata Matuszewska; Lukasz Mąka; Jolanta Solecka

doi:10.7494/geol.2025.51.1.43

Authors

Joanna Ziemska National Institute of Public Health National Institute of Hygiene – National Research Institute, Department of Environmental Health and Safety, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8905-6825
Marta Bartosik National Institute of Public Health National Institute of Hygiene – National Research Institute, Department of Environmental Health and Safety, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0829-0378
Tomasz Szynal National Institute of Public Health National Institute of Hygiene – National Research Institute, Department of Environmental Health and Safety, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3509-820X
Małgorzata Mazańska National Institute of Public Health National Institute of Hygiene – National Research Institute, Department of Environmental Health and Safety, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8251-4923
Renata Matuszewska National Institute of Public Health National Institute of Hygiene – National Research Institute, Department of Environmental Health and Safety, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6191-9542
Lukasz Mąka National Institute of Public Health National Institute of Hygiene – National Research Institute, Department of Environmental Health and Safety, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6392-9747
Jolanta Solecka National Institute of Public Health National Institute of Hygiene – National Research Institute, Department of Environmental Health and Safety, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6052-3423

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7494/geol.2025.51.1.43

Keywords:

natural medicinal water, balneotherapy, crenotherapy, medicinal resources

Abstract

Balneotherapy, utilising natural medicinal waters, gases, and peloids, is a clinically effective method for complementing the treatment of various medical conditions. One specific type of balneotherapy is crenotherapy, which involves the oral administration of natural medicinal waters. This study aimed to assess the impact of storage time on the stability of the chemical composition and microbiological quality of bottled natural medicinal waters, as well as to assess the feasibility of using packaged natural medicinal waters at home to prolong the effect post-sanatorium treatment, as recommended by the chief physician responsible for health resorts. Fourteen bottled medicinal waters sourced from seven Polish health resorts were analysed. The study examined the following samples: one HCO₃-Cl-Na-Ca, four HCO₃-Cl-Na, one HCO₃-Mg-Na-Ca, two HCO₃-Na-Ca, two HCO₃-Ca, two HCO₃-Na and two Cl-Na waters. Physicochemical and microbiological parameters were measured at the following times: t₀ (immediately after packaging), t₁ (midway through the declared shelf life) and t₂(at the end of the shelf life). Physicochemical analysis of the medicinal waters demonstrated the stability of the chemical composition in terms of basic minerals and physicochemical parameters over the product’s shelf life, as defined by the manufacturer. Faecal indicator bacteria or Pseudomonas aeruginosa were absent in all of the samples tested. However, coliform bacteria, potentially of biofilm origin, were detected in one sample. An initially high number of microorganisms, determined at 22°C, observed in three water samples, was no longer detected at the final testing stage. The findings indicate that the medicinal waters analysed maintain stability in chemical composition, organoleptic parameters and microbiological purity throughout the manufacturer’s specified shelf life.

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