SERS Detection of Environmental Variability in Balneary Salt Lakes During Tourist Season: A Pilot Study.

ABSTRACT: This pilot study uses Raman spectroscopy and SERS to monitor monthly water composition changes in two adjacent hypersaline lakes (L1 and L2) at a balneary resort, during the peak tourist season (May-October 2023). In situ pH and electrical conductivity (EC) measurements, along with evaporite analyses, complemented the spectroscopic data. Although traditionally considered similar, the lakes frequently raise public questions about their relative bathing benefits. While not directly addressing the therapeutic effects, the study reveals distinct physicochemical profiles between the lakes. Raman data showed consistently higher sulfate levels in L2, a trend also observed in winter monitoring. pH levels were higher in L1 (8-9.8) than in L2 (7.2-8), except for one October depth reading. This trend

SUBMITTER: Molnar C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12564343 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature