Contribution of organic compounds to the Altai Region, Russia, thermal waters balneological effect

It is known that medicinal thermal and mineral waters have a beneficial effect on the human body due to the high content of minerals. As a rule, the therapeutic effect of thermal mineral waters on human health is associated with the inorganic dissolved fraction. For example, various silicon compounds, such as silicic acid, in combination with water temperature, prove useful when using thermal waters in various resorts and balneological clinics. However, these waters, along with inorganic components, contain a variety of dissolved organic substances, which are also likely to have medical significance. On the one hand, they may have a beneficial effect on the human body; on the other hand, cause harm due to the presence of toxic compounds. Various issues of the balneological influence of organic components in the Altai Territory hot springs, as well as their probable negative impact, are considered in this manuscript. Using the method of capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and solid-phase extraction of the Belokurikha deposit thermal waters in the Altai Territory, it has been identified various hydrocarbons and their derivatives, constituting 16 homologous series, and revealed the prevalence of aliphatic (mainly normal and iso-alkanes) and aromatic hydrocarbons (arenes and heteroaromatic compounds). Besides, in thermal waters it has been found carboxylic acids and their esters. Their origin in the studied Belokurikha hot springs is associated with biogenic processes, including bacterial activity. A number of identified components may indicate minor man-made pollution. According to the results of the study, the presence of such components as carboxylic acids, esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, and molecular sulfur in the medicinal waters has a positive effect on the population health in the Belokurikha resort. Although toxic compounds of benzene and its derivatives are present in the Belokurikha waters, their concentrations are not high and do not pose a danger to human health.