Particulate Matter in the Air of the Underground Chamber Complex of the Wieliczka Salt Mine Health Resort

This study aimed to evaluate the mass concentration of size-resolved (PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM10, PM100) particulate matter (PM) in the Wieliczka Salt Mine located in southern Poland, compare them with the concentrations of the same PM fractions in the atmospheric air, and estimate the dose of dry salt aerosol inhaled by the mine visitors. Measurements were conducted for 2 hours a day, simultaneously inside (tourist route, passage to the health resort, health resort) and outside the mine (duty-room), for three days in the summer of 2017 using DustTrak DRX devices (optical method). The highest average PM concentrations were recorded on the tourist route (54–81 µg/m3), while the lowest was in the passage to the health resort (49–62 µg/m3). At the same time, the mean outdoor PM concentrations were 14–20 µg/m3. Fine particles constituting the majority of PM mass (68–80%) in the mine originated from internal sources, while the presence of coarse particles was associated with tourist traffic. High PM deposition factors in the respiratory tract of children and adults estimated for particular mine chambers (0.58–0.70), the predominance of respirable particles in PM mass, and the high content of NaCl in PM composition indicate high health benefits for mine visitors.

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Analysis of Tourist Traffic Implemented in Health Resort “Wieliczka” Salt Mine under Health Tourism

Ekonomiczne Problemy Turystyki ◽

10.18276/ept.2016.3.35-18 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. 223-236

Author(s):

Jolanta Mirek

Keyword(s):

Salt Mine ◽

Health Resort ◽

Health Tourism

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Bioaerosols of subterraneotherapy chambers at salt mine health resort

Aerobiologia ◽

10.1007/s10453-013-9298-y ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 481-493 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Krzysztof Frączek ◽

Rafał L. Górny ◽

Dariusz Ropek

Keyword(s):

Salt Mine ◽

Health Resort

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Inhalations with Brine Solution from the ‘Wieliczka’ Salt Mine Diminish Airway Hyperreactivity and Inflammation in a Murine Model of Non-Atopic Asthma

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21134798 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (13) ◽

pp. 4798

Author(s):

Dominika Zając ◽

Ewelina Russjan ◽

Magdalena Kostrzon ◽

Katarzyna Kaczyńska

Keyword(s):

Murine Model ◽

Pure Water ◽

Physiological Saline ◽

Airway Hyperreactivity ◽

Atopic Asthma ◽

Saline Control ◽

Salt Mine ◽

Health Resort ◽

Brine Solution ◽

Inflammatory Status

Inhalations with brine solutions are old but underestimated add-ons to pharmacological treatments of inflammatory lung diseases. Although widely used, not all features underlying their action on the respiratory system have been explored. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the mechanism of the beneficial action of inhalations of brine solution from the ‘Wieliczka’ Salt Mine, a Polish health resort, in a murine model of non-atopic asthma. Asthma was induced in BALB/c mice by skin sensitization with dinitrofluorobenzene followed by an intratracheal challenge of cognate hapten. All animals underwent 12 inhalation sessions with brine solution, pure water or physiological saline. Control mice were not inhaled. We found that brine inhalations reduced, as compared to non-inhaled mice, the typical asthma-related symptoms, like airway hyperreactivity (AHR), the infiltration of pro-inflammatory cells into the bronchial tree, and the inflammation of the airways at the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-6. The level of the anti-inflammatory IL-10 was elevated in brine-inhaled mice. Inhalations with pure water increased AHR, whereas saline had no influence, either on AHR or cytokine concentrations. These observations indicate that inhalations with a brine solution from the ‘Wieliczka’ Salt Mine diminish the asthma-related symptoms, mostly by reducing the inflammatory status and by decreasing AHR.

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Origin, distribution, and perspective health benefits of particulate matter in the air of underground salt mine: a case study from Bochnia, Poland

Environmental Geochemistry and Health ◽

10.1007/s10653-021-00832-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aleksandra Puławska ◽

Maciej Manecki ◽

Michał Flasza ◽

Katarzyna Styszko

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Human Health ◽

Gravimetric Method ◽

Functional Space ◽

Point Of View ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Salt Mine ◽

Genetic Classification ◽

Salt Mines

Abstract The composition and distribution of airborne particles in different locations in a salt mine were determined in terms of their origin, the distance from the air inlet, and the adaptation of post-mining chambers and corridors for tourists and general audience. The composition of aerosols in air was also evaluated from the perspective of human health. Air samples were collected on filters by using portable air pumps, in a historical underground salt mine in Bochnia (Poland), which is currently a touristic and recreation attraction and sanatorium. The particulate matter (PM) concentration was determined using the gravimetric method by weighing quartz filters. The content of carbon, water-soluble constituents, trace elements, and minerals was also determined. A genetic classification of the suspended matter was proposed and comprised three groups: geogenic (fragments of rock salt and associated minerals from the deposit), anthropogenic (carbon-bearing particles from tourist traffic and small amounts of fly ash, soot, and rust), and biogenic particles (occasional pollen). The total PM concentration in air varied between 21 and 79 μg/m3 (with PM4 constituting 4–24 μg/m3). The amount of atmospheric dust components coming from the surface was low and decreased with the distance from the intake shaft, thus indicating the self-cleaning process. NaCl dominated the water-soluble constituents, while Fe, Al, Ag, Mn, and Zn dominated the trace elements, with the concentration of majority of them below 30 ng/m3. These metals are released into air from both natural sources and the wear or/and corrosion of mining and tourists facilities in the underground functional space. No potentially toxic elements or constituents were detected. The presence of salt particles and salty spray in the atmosphere of salt mine, which may have anti-inflammatory and antiallergic properties, is beneficial to human health. This study will allow for a broader look at the potential of halotherapy in underground salt mines from a medical and regulatory point of view.

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The influence of speleotherapy combined with pulmonary rehabilitation on functional fitness in older adults – preliminary report

Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease ◽

10.1177/1753466620926952 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 175346662092695

Author(s):

Sylwia Mętel ◽

Magdalena Kostrzon ◽

Justyna Adamiak ◽

Halina Gattner ◽

Dominika Kościelecka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Pulmonary Rehabilitation ◽

Preliminary Report ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Functional Fitness ◽

Salt Mine ◽

Health Resort ◽

Before And After ◽

The Mean ◽

Respiratory Conditions

Objective: Our aim was to determine the influence of pulmonary rehabilitation conducted in therapeutic salt mine chambers on the functional fitness of older adults. Methods: The study included 22 individuals of age >65 years with chronic respiratory conditions. The patients underwent the Fullerton test before and after a 3-week outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation in the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine Health Resort. Results: After the rehabilitation stay, the results showed statistically significant improvements within five of the six parameters evaluated. In the Arm Curl, the mean number of repetitions within 30 s increased from 14.55 ± 3.63 to 16.68 ± 3.83 and in the Chair Stand from 11.86 ± 2.55 to 14.41 ± 2.95. Beneficial changes were observed in the Back Scratch, but without statistical significance. In Sit and Reach results increased from -2.3 ± 11.11cm to 2.14 ± 9.19 cm. Time for performing the 8-Foot Up and Go decreased from 6.63 ± 1.27 s to 5.8 ± 0.86 s and in 2-Minute Step results increased from 88.27 ± 20.64 to 96.55 ± 16.38 repetitions. Conclusion: Functional fitness of examined older adults with pulmonary disorders has increased after a rehabilitation and treatment stay in underground salt mine chambers. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.

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