Enhancing Halotherapy for Arctic Respiratory Health: Simulating a Marine Microclimate with Kempendyai and Sea Salts
Residents of Arctic regions face a high incidence of respiratory diseases, with limited access to the therapeutic benefits of coastal marine air. This study investigates the efficacy of halotherapy using local Kempendyai salt and evaluates the enhancement of its therapeutic effect by simulating a marine microclimate within a salt room. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, including a literature review, analysis of respiratory disease incidence in local schools using Kempendyai salt rooms, and a controlled experiment. The experiment compared a standard Kempendyai salt room against a modified "sea salt room" where humidity was increased to 60% and a sea salt aerosol with air ionization was introduced to replicate key marine climate parameters. Results from educational institutions in Suntar village showed a consistent average 10% reduction in annual respiratory disease incidence following halotherapy courses. Comparative analysis revealed that while Kempendyai salt has a higher sodium chloride concentration (98%), sea salt contains a greater diversity of beneficial microelements (5%). The experimental simulation successfully created a marine-like environment, doubling the concentration of negative air ions. Physiological measurements on adult volunteers demonstrated that the simulated marine microclimate room led to greater stabilization of arterial pressure and heart rate, and a more pronounced increase in blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂), yielding an average therapeutic enhancement of 1.4% compared to the standard salt room. The study concludes that modifying a salt room to simulate a marine microclimate enhances its therapeutic benefits. It is recommended to install such optimized salt rooms in educational institutions across Arctic regions to mitigate the high burden of respiratory diseases.