STUDY FOR A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SEASONAL MICROBIAL LOAD IN SOME NATURAL SALTED WATERS FROM ROMANIA

The task of our studies was represented by the seasonal microbial load analysis from some Romanian natural salted water sources (springs and lakes) in order to check the requested conditions for their use as balneal treatment in a safe way. In order to check if the seasonal environmental factors can change the microbial load of some natural salted springs, a set of microbiological analyses were carried out at a laboratory level. Our study was focused on the next microbial groups: mesophilic bacteria growing at 22o C, mesophilic bacteria growing at 37o C, total number of coliform bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella sp. The methods used for this purpose were those recommended by the specialized standards. The obtained results were compared with the literature data and indicated the importance of keeping a safe area in the neighborhood of those natural water sources which are selected as balneal treatment resorts.