Hard Water, More Elastic Arteries: A Case Study from Krupina District, Slovakia

Stanislav Rapant, Veronika Cvečková, Katarína Fajčíková, Igor Hajdúk, Edgar Hiller and Beáta Stehlíková
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Stanislav Rapant: Department of Geochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
Veronika Cvečková: Department of Geochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
Katarína Fajčíková: Magistrate of the Capital City of Bratislava, Primaciálne nám. 1, 814 99 Bratislava, Slovakia
Igor Hajdúk: Institute for Work Rehabilitation of Disabled People, Mokrohájska 1, 842 40 Bratislava, Slovakia
Edgar Hiller: Department of Geochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
Beáta Stehlíková: Faculty of Economics of Business, Pan-European University, Tematínska 10, 851 05, Bratislava 5, Slovakia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: The protective role of hard drinking water against cardiovascular diseases is well documented by numerous studies. This article describes the impact of Ca and Mg contents in the drinking water with different water hardness on the cardiovascular system (arterial stiffness, arterial age) of residents of the Krupina district, the Slovak Republic. The research was based on the measurements of arterial stiffness, including the measurements of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and the calculation of the arterial age of the residents. In total, 144 randomly selected residents were included in measurements, divided into the two groups according to Ca and Mg contents in drinking water (water hardness). The first group was supplied with soft drinking water (total dissolved solids (TDS): 200–300 mg·L −1 , Ca: 20–25 mg·L −1 , Mg: 5–10 mg·L −1 ). The second group of residents was supplied with harder drinking water (TDS: 500–600 mg·L −1 , Ca: 80–90 mg·L −1 , Mg: 25–30 mg·L −1 ). Differences in arterial stiffness between the two groups of respondents were documented. Higher arterial stiffness (low flexibility of arteries) was determined for a group of residents supplied with soft drinking water. This was reflected in higher PWVao levels, higher number of pathological cases (PWVao > 10 m·s −1 ), and arterial age of respondents compared to their actual age. The “absolute” difference between the arterial and actual age between the two evaluated groups of residents (soft vs. harder water) was nearly 5 years on average. The higher arterial stiffness and age of residents that consumed soft drinking water indicate the health significance of lower contents of Ca and Mg in drinking water as an environmental risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Measuring arterial stiffness of residents in the areas supplied with soft drinking water can be used as a non-invasive approach in the prevention of cardiovascular risks.

Keywords: cardiovascular diseases; arterial stiffness; human health; drinking water; calcium; magnesium; water hardness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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