Microbiological diversity of saline healing water of Slankamen Banja - Serbia

In 2017, the microbiological and biochemical diversity of saline healing water at Slankamen Banja was assessed for the presence of targeted physiological groups of bacteria, using a system of six biological activity reaction tests (BART): IRB, SRB, HAB, DN, SLYM and FLOR. The water samples originated from a karst-fractured aquifer, represented by petrographic varieties of Pliocene and Miocene litho-tamian, ceritic and sandy limestones, which discordantly overlie Anisian and Ladinian limestone and serpentinite. Prior to using the BART biodetectors for detailed observations, the physical and chemical composition of the saline healing water was defined, indicating that it is of the Na+- Cl- type, with a high mineral content. The water is also cold and low alkaline, exhibiting elevated concentrations of significant balneotherapeutic elements: Sr2+, J- and B3+. The detected biochemical activity of anaerobic fermentation bacteria and aerobic iron oxidants was high. It is 2,200 potentially active cells per ml of water, approximately by day of reaction. Sulphate-reducing bacteria of medium biochemical activity were also detected, while the presence of denitrifying and slime forming bacteria was characterized by low biochemical activity. BART-Soft v-6 software was used to assess the risk of biocorrosion and biofouling processes developing in well B-1 ('Slanjača'), as well as the potential health risk. The study indicates that the development of these processes is possible, that the health risk of using the saline mineral water for balneotherapy is minimal, and that the BART FLOR biodetector did not reveal any Pseudomonas (fluorescences and aeruginosa) bacteria, which cause waterborne diseases.