Physico-chemical characteristics of the peloid mud from Morinje Bay (eastern Adriatic coast, Croatia): suitability for use in balneotherapy.

The study conducted in the Morinje Bay (Central Dalmatia, Croatia) included the investigation of the sedimentological, physico-chemical and geochemical properties of the Morinje Bay sediments in order to assess the suitability of the material for wellness-related purposes including medicinal use. The sedimentological characteristics of the Morinje mud are in accordance with the geological origin of the material; the sediment is fine grained, composed mostly of carbonates, quartz and clay minerals. The composition of the sediment determines the physico-chemical properties of the mud. The high content of carbonate minerals diminishes adsorbing the characteristics of the mud to some extent; however, they are still comparable to some commercial mud already successfully used for medicinal purposes. Geochemical analyses have shown that trace metals concentrations in the Morinje Bay samples were mostly in the range with similar material from unpolluted Adriatic environments. Only the concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn and As were slightly higher than in the reference material, but still within acceptable limits.

[The 60th anniversary of the Croatian Balneological and Climatological Institute]. / Sezdeseta obljetnica osnutka Balneolosko-Klimatoloskog Instituta Hrvatske.

Sixty years ago, more precisely on 28 August 1949, Croatian Ministry of Health founded the Balneological and Climatological Institute as a result of a long-term endeavor and attempts to provide Croatia with an institution of this type, already existing in many European countries. In 1953, the Institute came under the management of the Yugoslav Academy of Arts and Sciences/YAAS [today Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts and became the Department of Balneoclimatology of the Medical Research Institute of YAAS. In 1958, it was transferred to the Medical School of the University of Zagreb, continuing to function first as the Institute of Balneoclimatology and Physical Therapy and, since 1963, as the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In spite of financial difficulties and occasional lack of understanding from the officials in this field, significant contributions have been made to balneology during this time, justifying the need for such an institution. On 15 April 2008, the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation became Department for Balneoclimatology, under the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health of Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, Rockfellerova 4, Zagreb.