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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Depositional facies and aqueous-solid geochemistry of travertine-depositing hot springs (Angel Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, U.S.A.).

Petrographic and geochemical analyses of travertine-depositing hot springs at Angel Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, have been used to define five depositional facies along the spring drainage system. Spring waters are expelled in the vent facies at 71 to 73 degrees C and precipitate mounded travertine composed of aragonite needle botryoids. The apron and channel facies (43-72 degrees C) is floored by hollow tubes composed of aragonite needle botryoids that encrust sulfide-oxidizing Aquificales bacteria. The travertine of the pond facies (30-62 degrees C) varies in composition from aragonite needle shrubs formed at higher temperatures to ridged networks of calcite and aragonite at lower temperatures. Calcite "ice sheets", calcified bubbles, and aggregates of aragonite needles ("fuzzy dumbbells") precipitate at the air-water interface and settle to pond floors. The proximal-slope facies (28-54 degrees C), which forms the margins of terracette pools, is composed of arcuate aragonite needle shrubs that create small microterracettes on the steep slope face. Finally, the distal-slope facies (28-30 degrees C) is composed of calcite spherules and calcite "feather" crystals. Despite the presence of abundant microbial mat communities and their observed role in providing substrates for mineralization, the compositions of spring-water and travertine predominantly reflect abiotic physical and chemical processes. Vigorous CO2 degassing causes a +2 unit increase in spring water pH, as well as Rayleigh-type covariations between the concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon and corresponding delta 13C. Travertine delta 13C and delta 18O are nearly equivalent to aragonite and calcite equilibrium values calculated from spring water in the higher-temperature (approximately 50-73 degrees C) depositional facies. Conversely, travertine precipitating in the lower-temperature (< approximately 50 degrees C) depositional facies exhibits delta 13C and delta 18O values that are as much as 4% less than predicted equilibrium values. This isotopic shift may record microbial respiration as well as downstream transport of travertine crystals. Despite the production of H2S and the abundance of sulfide oxidizing microbes, preliminary delta 34S data do not uniquely define the microbial metabolic pathways present in the spring system. This suggests that the high extent of CO2 degassing and large open-system solute reservoir in these thermal systems overwhelm biological controls on travertine crystal chemistry.

Calcium Carbonate↗
PubMed2004

[Thermal knowledge and therapies: a comparative view of Portugal (São Pedro do Sul hot springs) and Brazil (Caldas da Imperatriz hot springs)].

Based on nineteenth - and twentieth-century texts, the article discusses how medicine legitimized the therapeutic practice of thermalism as so-called 'scientific' knowledge, with the creation of therapeutic establishments and hot-springs resort. My research began in Portugal in 1996, where I produced an ethnography of experiences at the São Pedro do Sul hot springs. My research at Brazil's Caldas da Imperatriz, initiated in August 2001, is still underway.

Balneology↗
PubMed1993

[A case of Legionnaires' disease due to aspiration of hot spring water and isolation of Legionella pneumophila from hot spring water].

We report a case of fulminant pneumonia that was due to aspiration of contaminated hot spring water and was not affected by beta-lactam antibiotics. We suspected that the patient had Legionnaires' disease and treated the clinical symptoms with erythromycin. Legionellaceae could not be isolated from sputum or lung biopsy material, but an elevated titer to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 4 was found by indirect immunofluorescence test. We diagnosed the patent as having Legionnaires' disease with improved clinical symptoms. Furthermore, we went to the hot spring that he visited and tried to isolate Legionellaceae. Hot spring water was collected from the bathroom and water, hot water, and shower water from the guest-room. After using a low-pH method, samples were cultured on BCYE alpha medium. Serogroups are classified by agglutination method with immune rabbit serum. As a result, we successfully isolated Legionella pneumophila serogroup 4 from hot spring water (42 degrees C) from the bath. No bacteria could be isolated from the other samples. Therefore, we believe that this case of Legionnaires' disease was caused by aspiration of contaminated hot spring water. The infection route of Legionnaires' disease is unclear. There are no previous reports of isolation of Legionellaceae from Japanese hot springs. This case would provide important information when considering the infection route of Legionnaires' disease in Japan.

Accidents↗
PubMed2000

Phototrophs in high iron microbial mats: microstructure of mats in iron-depositing hot springs.

Chocolate Pots Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park are high in ferrous iron, silica and bicarbonate. The springs are contributing to the active development of an iron formation. The microstructure of photosynthetic microbial mats in these springs was studied with conventional optical microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The dominant mats at the highest temperatures (48-54 degrees C) were composed of Synechococcus and Chloroflexus or Pseudanabaena and Mastigocladus. At lower temperatures (36-45 degrees C), a narrow Oscillatoria dominated olive green cyanobacterial mats covering most of the iron deposit. Vertically oriented cyanobacterial filaments were abundant in the top 0.5 mm of the mats. Mineral deposits accumulated beneath this surface layer. The filamentous microstructure and gliding motility may contribute to binding the iron minerals. These activities and heavy mineral encrustation of cyanobacteria may contribute to the growth of the iron deposit. Chocolate Pots Hot Springs provide a model for studying the potential role of photosynthetic prokaryotes in the origin of Precambrian iron formations.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Phototrophs in high-iron-concentration microbial mats: physiological ecology of phototrophs in an iron-depositing hot spring.

At Chocolate Pots Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park the source waters have a pH near neutral, contain high concentrations of reduced iron, and lack sulfide. An iron formation that is associated with cyanobacterial mats is actively deposited. The uptake of [(14)C]bicarbonate was used to assess the impact of ferrous iron on photosynthesis in this environment. Photoautotrophy in some of the mats was stimulated by ferrous iron (1.0 mM). Microelectrodes were used to determine the impact of photosynthetic activity on the oxygen content and the pH in the mat and sediment microenvironments. Photosynthesis increased the oxygen concentration to 200% of air saturation levels in the top millimeter of the mats. The oxygen concentration decreased with depth and in the dark. Light-dependent increases in pH were observed. The penetration of light in the mats and in the sediments was determined. Visible radiation was rapidly attenuated in the top 2 mm of the iron-rich mats. Near-infrared radiation penetrated deeper. Iron was totally oxidized in the top few millimeters, but reduced iron was detected at greater depths. By increasing the pH and the oxygen concentration in the surface sediments, the cyanobacteria could potentially increase the rate of iron oxidation in situ. This high-iron-content hot spring provides a suitable model for studying the interactions of microbial photosynthesis and iron deposition and the role of photosynthesis in microbial iron cycling. This model may help clarify the potential role of photosynthesis in the deposition of Precambrian banded iron formations.

Bicarbonates↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Legionella pneumophila in thermal pools of hot springs in the central Anatolian district].

Microbiological contamination of hot spring waters is a public health problem, and hot spring waters have been thought to be a potential source of Legionella infections. In this study, 209 water samples collected from 69 thermal pools of 36 hot springs in the Central Anatolia Region were examined for the presence of Legionella spp. between September and November 2001. The water samples were concentrated via filtration, and the filtrates were decontaminated by low-pH method. Then the samples were cultured on non-selective (Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract Agar, BCYE) and selective (GVPC; BCYE supplemented with glycine, vancomycin, polymyxin B, cycloheximide, and MWY; BCYE supplemented with glycine, anisomycin, polymyxin B, vancomycin, bromthymol blue, bromcresole purple) media, and suspected colonies were confirmed by Legionella Latex Kit (Oxoid) and direct fluorescent antibody test. As a result, 24 out of 209 (11.5%) water samples were found positive for Legionella pneumophila, and a total 26 L. pneumophila strains were isolated from these 24 samples. Two of these isolates were found reactive with serogroup 1, 20 were reactive with serogroup 2-14 antisera in agglutination test, while 2 samples collected from the same thermal pool, have yielded 2 strains, of which one was serogroup 1 and the other was serogroup 2-14. L. pneumophila was detected in 22.2% of hot springs (8 of 36) and 14.5% of thermal pools (10 of 69). L. pneumophila concentrations which were detected in water samples ranged from 10 to 430 CFU/100 ml. This is the first data for the prevalence of Legionnaires' disease agent in hot spring spas in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. Colonization of bacterium in some spas indicates that the certain hot springs might be endemic focuses for Legionnaires' disease in our country.

Balneology↗
PubMed1990

[A preliminary report on endemic fluorosis caused by treating food with hot spring water].

Fengliang town is situated in the hot spring area in the eastern part of Guangdong province. The concentrations of fluorine in drinking water were less than 0.4 ppm and the prevalence rate of dental fluorosis was 55.43%. A preliminary epidemiological survey showed that the fluorine concentrations of vegetables treated with hot-spring water (F- 20.33 ppm) and dried and those with control water (0.12 ppm) were 55.35 and 16.29 mg/kg respectively. The former was significantly higher than the latter. There was a positive correlation between the dental fluorosis prevalence rate and the distance from residential site to the hot spring in five residential sites and a dose response relationship between prevalence rate and frequency of using hot spring water was observed. It is suggested that the major epidemiological factor of fluorosis in this town is the food contaminated by hot spring water and this area could be designated as an endemic fluorosis area due to food contamination by hot-spring water.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Activity of bacteria in water of hot springs from Southern and Central Kamchatskaya geothermal provinces, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia.

The hot-spring waters of numerous hot springs at the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia differ in their chemical characteristics and elemental composition. Total bacterial abundance (TBA) as well as enzymatically active and respiring bacteria was enumerated in water samples collected from the Nalychevskie, Oksinskie, Apapelskie, and Dachnye hot springs. 5-Carboxyfluorescein diacetate activity was detected in all water samples and comprised 29-65% of the TBA as determined by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindol staining. The respiratory activity of iron-oxidizing bacteria was assayed by 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyltetrazolium chloride reduction. Respiring cells accounted for 9-14% of the TBA, indicating a positive correlation with the number of iron-oxidizing bacteria from the hot-spring biomats. Enumeration of heterotrophic bacteria revealed a high-density bacterial population only in the water of the Apapelskie hot spring, which has a temperature of 36 degrees C. Therefore, it appears that heterotrophic and iron-oxidizing bacteria inhabiting the hot-spring waters are essential for the geochemical processes occurring in hydrothermal systems.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2005

The elevation of p53 protein level and SOD activity in the resident blood of the Misasa radon hot spring district.

To clarify the mechanism by which radon hot springs prevent cancer or not, in this study, blood was collected from residents in the Misasa hot spring district and in a control district. The level of a representative cancer-suppressive gene, p53, and the activity of a representative antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD), were analyzed as indices. The level of serum p53 protein in the males in the Misasa hot spring district was found to be 2-fold higher than that in the control district, which is a significant difference. In the females in the Misasa hot spring district, SOD activity was approximately 15% higher than that in the control district, which is also statistically significant, and exceeded the reference range of SOD activity despite advanced age. These results suggested that routine exposure of the residents in the Misasa hot spring district to radon at a concentration about 3 times higher than the national mean induces trace active oxygen in vivo, potentiating products of cancer-suppressive gene and antioxidant function. As the p53 protein level was high in the residents in the Misasa hot spring district, apoptosis of cancer cells may readily occur.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Radiological studies in the hot spring region of Mahallat, Central Iran.

Five hot springs called 'Abegarm-e-Mahallat', located in the central part of Iran, have a mean water temperature of 46 +/- 1 degrees C and are used by visitors as spas. This is an area of high natural radiation background due to the presence of (226)Ra and its decay products in the deposited travertine (CaCO(3)). The mean concentration of (226)Ra in these hot springs, measured by the emanation method, ranged from 0.48 +/- 0.05 to 1.35 +/- 0.13 Bq l(-1). (222)Rn concentrations measured in the hot springs using a liquid scintillation counter ranged from 145 +/- 37 to 2731 +/- 98 Bq l(-1). Mean radon concentrations in air were 487 +/- 160 and 15.4 +/- 2.7 Bq m(-3) for indoor and outdoor, respectively. Radiation levels above that of normal background ( approximately 100 nGy h(-1)) were mainly limited to the Quaternary travertine formations in the vicinity of the hot springs. The results of environmental radiological studies in this region are presented and discussed.

Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗
PubMed2004

Phage community dynamics in hot springs.

In extreme thermal environments such as hot springs, phages are the only known microbial predators. Here we present the first study of prokaryotic and phage community dynamics in these environments. Phages were abundant in hot springs, reaching concentrations of a million viruses per milliliter. Hot spring phage particles were resistant to shifts to lower temperatures, possibly facilitating DNA transfer out of these extreme environments. The phages were actively produced, with a population turnover time of 1 to 2 days. Phage-mediated microbial mortality was significant, making phage lysis an important component of hot spring microbial food webs. Together, these results show that phages exert an important influence on microbial community structure and energy flow in extreme thermal environments.

Archaea↗
PubMed2007

Environmental survey of Legionella pneumophila in hot springs in Taiwan.

Acquisition of sporadic community-acquired legionnaires' disease has been linked to hot springs and whirlpool baths. Outbreaks of hot spring-associated legionnaires' disease were reported in Japan in the last few years. Although the mode of transmission is unclear, the presence of Legionella in hot springs may discourage hot springs resort visits by the general public. An environmental survey was conducted to determine the presence of Legionella in hot springs in Taiwan. In total, 55 water samples were collected from 19 hot springs resorts; 21% (4/19) of the hot spring resorts sampled yielded L. pneumophila in the public hot springs bath. Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 and 6, L. pneumophila serogroup 3, L. pneumophila serogroup 5, and L. pneumophila serogroup 7 were isolated from four different resort spas, respectively. The total sample positivity rate for L. pneumophila was 11% (6/55). The risk of occurrences of legionnaires' disease outbreaks associated with hot springs water in general public is unknown, and epidemiologic investigations should be conducted for locating the potential sources of Legionella for those cases of community-acquired legionnaires' disease. Disinfection of hot springs for Legionella may be necessary if the risk of contracting legionnaires' disease from hot springs can be validated by an evidence-based approach.

Disinfection↗
PubMed2005

Indoor radon levels in selected hot spring hotels in Guangdong, China.

Guangdong is one of the provinces that have most hot springs in China, and many hotels have been set up near hot springs, with spring water introduced into the bath inside each hotel room for hot spring bathing to attract tourists. In the present study, we measured radon in indoor and outdoor air, as well as in hot spring waters, in four hot spring hotels in Guangdong by using NR-667A (III) continuous radon detector. Radon concentrations ranged 53.4-292.5 Bq L(-1) in the hot spring water and 17.2-190.9 Bq m(-3) in outdoor air. Soil gas intrusion, indoor hot spring water use and inefficient ventilation all contributed to the elevated indoor radon levels in the hotel rooms. From the variation of radon levels in closed unoccupied hotel rooms, soil gas intrusion was found to be a very important source of indoor radon in hotel rooms with floors in contact with soils. When there was spring water bathing in the bathes, average radon levels were 10.9-813% higher in the hotel rooms and 13.8-489% higher in bathes compared to their corresponding average levels when there was no spring water use. Spring water use in the hotel rooms had radon transfer coefficients from 1.6x10(-4) to 5.0x10(-3). Radon in some hotel rooms maintained in concentrations much higher than guideline levels might thus have potential health risks to the hotel workers, and technical and management measures should be taken to lower their exposure of radon through inhalation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Antimicrobial effects of acidic hot-spring water on Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from atopic dermatitis patients.

The present study examined the antimicrobial effects of acidic hot-spring water on Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Plasma coagulation by S. aureus cells was not detected in plasma containing acidic hot-spring water (60%, pH 5.4) or hydrochloric acid (pH 5.0) after incubation for 24 h. S. aureus cells did not grow in Mueller-Hinton broth with acidic hot-spring water (50%, pH 4.4) after 24 h incubation. The colony counts of S. aureus cells in tryptic soy broth containing acidic hot-spring water (60%, pH 3.9) were over ten times lower than those in tryptic soy broth alone after incubation for 24 h (P<0.01). A membranous structure (an immature biofilm) was formed on the coverslips of tissue culture dishes by S. aureus cells in plasma after incubation for 24 h, although the colony counts of S. aureus cells in the immature biofilms in plasma containing acidic hot-spring water (60%, pH 5.4) were about eight times lower than those in plasma alone after incubation for 24 h (P<0.01). The colony counts of S. aureus cells that attached on coverslips in plasma containing acidic hot-spring water (60%, pH 5.4) or hydrochloric acid (pH 5.4) were over 1000 times lower than those in plasma alone after incubation for 24 h. These results suggest that 50% acidic hot-spring water has a bacteriostatic effect, 60% acidic hot-spring water has a moderate bactericidal effect against floating S. aureus cells and those cells in a biofilm, and, 60% acidic hot-spring water has an inhibitory effect on plasma coagulation and attachment of S. aureus cells. Furthermore, our present results suggest that a small amount of some ions in hot-spring water such as manganese and iodide ions are very important for a bactericidal activity of hot-spring water as well as the low pH condition.

Acids↗
PubMed2004

[Physicochemical factors influencing distribution of Legionella species in Japanese hot springs].

We examined the relationship between the distribution of Legionella bacteria and various physicochemical characteristics of hot springs in Japan. Legionella bacteria were isolated from 52 (49.5%) out of 105 water samples, particularly from outdoor hot springs (67.3%). The bacterial count in the water samples positive for Legionella (86.5%) ranged from 10(1) to < 10(3) cfu/100 mL. L. pneumophila serogroup (SG) 4 (27.8%) was predominant in the water samples, followed by SG 5 (12.2%). The pulsefield gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns of chromosomal DNA for L. pneumophila SG 4 isolated from different parts of a hot spring resort were identical. Isolation of Legionella species from hot spring waters did not occur at pH 1.8-3.3, SO4(2-): > 780 mg/L, and H2SiO3: > 146 mg/L. The hot water-recirculating systems were applied to 18 out of 20 (90%) hot spring facilities which were found positive for Legionella. These results indicate that Legionella species are widespread in hot springs throughout Japan, except for waters with a low pH and non-recirculating waters, and that a single strain of L. pneumophila SG 4 is predominant in a particular hot spring resort.

Hot Springs↗