Health and Economic Importance of Mineral Waters: A Case Study of Ciritdüzü (Şavşat-Artvin) Mineral Water Spring
Abstract: The Mineral Water Producers Association (MASUDER) stated that our country has important resources in terms of mineral water, but consumption rates are quite low. This can be attributed to the fact that the effects ofmineral water are not sufficiently known. So far, studies have shown that mineral waters have positive effects on cardiovascular health, bone structure, digestive system, and metabolism. Increased awareness of health effects willpositively affect consumption. With the increase in consumption, the economic value of mineral water resources will also increase. In this study, the hydrogeochemical and isotopic properties of Ciritdüzü mineral water (CDMS) and some cold-water springs in Şavşat town in Artvin were examined and evaluated in terms of health. The springs have Na-Ca-HCO3, Ca-Mg-Na-HCO3 and Ca-HCO3 water types with temperatures ranging between 8-13 °C, pH values between 6.42-7.97 and EC values between 181-3195 µS/cm. The isotope contents of the waters (O-18, deuteriumand tritium) show that CDMS has deep circulation, and the other springs have shallow circulation. The δ34S values of the waters indicate that the source of sulfate in CDMS is a mixture of marine evaporites, terrestrial evaporitesand atmospheric sulfate; δ13C values indicate that the origin of carbon corresponds to metamorphic CO2. The trace element contents in the waters are generally consistent with the limit values given in the Regulation on Natural Mineral Waters. Antimony and arsenic concentrations are within the limit values and boron concentration is above the limit value for CDMS. When the waters are evaluated medically and climatologically, CDMS has bicarbonate content above the effective dose for drinking cures. When evaluated in terms of sodium, calcium and magnesiumion contents, CDMS can be used for diseases related to the digestive system, prevention of cardiovascular diseases,kidney and urinary tract diseases. The location of the CDMS spring, which has preventive and the rapeutic propertiesfor these disease groups, also offers the opportunity for climatotherapy.