ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the results of a study of variability of Ca and Mg concentrations in medicinal waters in selected spa resorts in south-western Poland. The highest concentrations of Ca ions are in P-300 intake in Polanica-Zdrój (437 mg/l), Sarenka in Jeleniów (359 mg/l), Pieniawa Chopina in Duszniki-Zdrój (350 mg/l) and Moniuszko (348 mg/l) in Kudowa-Zdrój. The highest Mg ion concentrations (approx. 100 mg/l) occur in waters from the well 2P (102 mg/l) in wieradów-Zdrój and in D brówka intake in Szczawno-Zdrój. Usually an increase in Ca reflects
a parallel increase of Mg. In a few sites (K-200 in Kudowa-Zdrój, P-300 in Polanica-Zdrój, no 5 and 6 in Gorzanow and no 39 and B-2 in Duszniki-Zdrój) an increase in Ca+2 ion has the opposite effect with a decrease in the Mg+2 ion concentration. Medicinal waters from Szczawno-Zdrój and wieradów-Zdrój are characterised by small variations in the Ca/Mg ratio.
