Chemical composition of groundwater and mortality for cardiovascular diseases in the Slovak Republic

This study deals with the analysis of relationship between chemical composition of the groundwater/ drinking water and the data on mortality for cardiovascular diseases (MCVD) in the Slovak Republic. Primary data consist of the Slovak national database of groundwater analyses (20,339 chemical analyses, 34 chemical elements/compounds) and data on MCVD (8 health indicators) collected for the 10-year period (1994 - 2003). The chemical and health data were unified in the same form and expressed as the mean values for each of 2883 municipalities within the Slovak Republic. Pearson and Spearman correlation as well as artificial neural network (ANN) methods were used for analysis of the relationship between chemical composition of groundwater/drinking water and MCVD. The most significant chemical elements having influence on MCVD were identified together with their limit values (limit and optimal contents). Based on the results of calculations, made through the neural networks, the following chemical elements/parameters in the groundwater were defined as the most significant for MCVD: Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺ (mmol l^-1), Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, TDS, Cl^-, HCO₃^-, SO₄^2-, NO^3-, SiO₂ and PO₄^3-. The obtained results document the highest relationship between MCVD and the groundwater contents of Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺ (mmol l^-1), Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. Following limit values were set for the most significant groundwater chemicals/parameters: Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺ 4.4 - 7.6 mmol l^-1, Ca²⁺ > 89.4 mg l^-1 and Mg²⁺ 42 - 78.1 mg l^-1. At these concentration ranges the mortality for cardiovascular diseases in the Slovak Republic reaches the lowest levels. These limit values are about twice higher in comparison with the current Slovak valid guideline values for the drinking water. (authors)