Subterranean Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Kostrzon, Magdalena; Śliwka, Agnieszka; Włoch, Tomasz; Szpunar, Małgorzata; Ankowska, Dorota; Nowobilski, Roman

doi:10.1007/5584_2019_354

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Research conducted by [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ] proves that the microclimate of underground salt chambers and therapy in such places have beneficial effects on the respiratory system and may even cause gradual restoration of health and functional efficiency of many physiological systems. One of the treatment methods belonging to the climatotherapeutic methods is subterraneotherapy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Properties of Particulate Matter in the Air of the Wieliczka Salt Mine and Related Health Benefits for Tourists

Bralewska

Mucha

Badyda

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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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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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Properties of Particulate Matter in the Air of the Wieliczka Salt Mine and Related Health Benefits for Tourists

Bralewska

Mucha

Badyda

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…The air in salt mines is characterized by high microclimate quality, high concentration of sodium chloride, high microbiological purity, negative ionization, and low level of natural radioactivity (Calin et al 2012;Kostrzon et al 2015a;Wiszniewski 2015). Therapeutic stay in salt mines is recommended for people suffering from chronic disorders such as bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Obtułowicz 2013;Kostrzon et al, 2015bKostrzon et al, , 2019Mętel et al 2020). Although the mechanism responsible for the therapeutic effects of subterranean therapy on the human body has not yet been explained in detail, the presence of salt spray in the atmosphere of sanatoriums in salt mines is definitely considered to be beneficial.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although some authors consider halotherapy to be an uncertain and unproven treatment (Shah and Greenberger 2012;Sandell et al 2013), sanatorium and halotherapy activities continue to be developed in salt mines (Simionca 2013;Kostrzon et al 2019;Mętel et al 2020). Recent studies on the discussion of the suitability of the underground aerosol of salt mines in respiratory treatment have focused mostly on bioaerosol and microbiological purity in the atmosphere of salt mines (Frączek and Grzyb 2010;Grzyb and Frączek 2010;Frączek et al 2013;Gębarowska et al 2018;Myszkowska et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Puławska

Manecki

Flasza

et al. 2021

Environ Geochem Health

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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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“…Speleotherapy is a climatic treatment method that uses the specific climate in the cave as a natural resource [1][2][3]. Air quality, underground climate, and radiation are considered the main therapeutic factors in speleotherapy in caves.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Prevalence in Aerosol and Spiders’ Webs in Karst Caves: Low Risk for Speleotherapy

et al. 2021

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A total of 152 aerosol and spider web samples were collected: 96 spider’s webs in karst areas in 4 European countries (Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Slovakia), specifically from the surface environment (n = 44), photic zones of caves (n = 26), and inside (aphotic zones) of caves (n = 26), 56 Particulate Matter (PM) samples from the Sloupsko-Sosuvsky Cave System (speleotherapy facility; n = 21) and from aerosol collected from the nearby city of Brno (n = 35) in the Czech Republic. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) were isolated from 13 (13.5%) spider’s webs: 5 isolates of saprophytic NTM (Mycobacterium gordonae, M. kumamotonense, M. terrae, and M. terrae complex) and 6 isolates of potentially pathogenic NTM (M. avium ssp. hominissuis, M. fortuitum, M. intracellulare, M. peregrinum and M. triplex). NTM were not isolated from PM collected from cave with the speleotherapy facility although mycobacterial DNA was detected in 8 (14.3%) samples. Temperature (8.2 °C, range 8.0–8.4 °C) and relative humidity (94.7%, range 93.6–96.6%) of air in this cave were relatively constant. The average PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentration was 5.49 µg m−3 and 11.1 µg m−3. Analysed anions (i.e., F−, Cl−, NO2−, SO42−, PO43− and NO3−) originating largely from the burning of wood and coal for residential heating in nearby villages in the surrounding area. The air in the caves with speleotherapy facilities should be monitored with respect to NTM, PM and anions to ensure a safe environment.

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Subterranean Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Cited by 12 publications

References 22 publications

Properties of Particulate Matter in the Air of the Wieliczka Salt Mine and Related Health Benefits for Tourists

Properties of Particulate Matter in the Air of the Wieliczka Salt Mine and Related Health Benefits for Tourists

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

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Prevalence in Aerosol and Spiders’ Webs in Karst Caves: Low Risk for Speleotherapy

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