The effects on human health and hydrogeochemical characteristics of the Kirkgeçit and Ozancik Hot Springs, Canakkale, Turkey.

This investigation was carried out to determine the hydrogeochemical characteristics of the Kirkgeçit and Ozancik hot springs. The study areas are located northeast and southwest of the town of Can, Canakkale. During the investigation, geological maps of the hot springs and its surroundings were prepared, and hot waters and rock samples were collected from the study sites. The Paleogene-Neogene aged andesite, trachyandesite, andesitic tuff, silicified tuff and tuffites form the basement rocks in the Ozancik hot spring area. In the Kirkgeçit hot spring area, there are Lower Triassic aged mica and quartz schists at the basement rocks. The unit is covered by limestones and marbles of the same age. They are overlain by Quaternary alluvial deposits. A chemical analysis of the Kirkgeçit hot water indicates that it is rich in SO(4)2- (1200.2 mgL-1), Cl- (121.7 mgL-1), HCO3- (32.5 mg L-1), Na+ (494 mg L-1), K+ (30.2 mg L-1), Ca2+ (102 mg L-1), Mg2+ (15.2 mg L-1), and SiO2 (65.22 mg L-1). Chemical analysis of the Ozancik hot water indicates that it is rich in SO(4)2- (575 mg L-1), Cl- (193.2 mg L-1), HCO3- (98.5 mg L-1), Na+ (315 mg L-1), K+ (7.248 mg L-1), Ca2+ (103 mg L-1), Mg2+ (0.274 mg L-1), and SiO2 (43.20 mg L-1). The distribution of ions in the hot waters on the Schoeller diagram has an arrangement of r(Na(+) + K+) > rCa2+ > rMg2+ and r(SO(4)2-) > rCl- > r(HCO3-). In addition, the inclusion of Fe2+, Cu2+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Ni2+ and Hg2+ in the hot water samples indicates potential natural inorganic contamination. The water analysis carried out following the ICPMS-200 technique was evaluated according to the World Health Organisation and Turkish Standards. The use and the effects of the hot water on human health are also discussed in the paper.