Paper Title
Freshwater Source of Sapropel for Medicine and Pharmaceutical Production

Abstract
Recently, there has been a drastic increase in the growth of the material’s consumption. Therefore, development trends need the necessity for a wider use of the local resources and available natural materials are one of the priorities around the world. From this point of view, the use of organic rich lake sediment like sapropel as a binder material can be considered as a solution.Sapropel might seem something mysterious and incomprehensible that can be found somewhere deep in the water. Sapropel is a common material in the water basement of the lakes in Latvia, but still not sufficiently explored. The biological activity of sapropel determines byamino acids, nucleotides, nucleosides,fatty acids etc., various vitamins and microorganisms that release antibiotics. This unique organic substance, which simultaneously softly but efficiently detoxify and feed human skin and encouragethe immune system, cell and nerve tissue regeneration and metabolic activity as well as the acid-base balance of sapropel is close to the pH level of human skin.The ability of sapropel to maintain heat for a long time ensures deep tissue warming, and has a positive effect on the treatment of various joint and skin diseases.Sapropel is a valuable resource with multiple areas of application. Study of five different sapropel deposits, including a survey of the sites selected according to the criteria, sampling at different depths and their initial treatment, evaluation of external signs in the laboratory and study of physical and chemical parameters, analysis of biochemical parameters and evaluation of microbiological indicators performed in current study. The composition of the therapeutic mud formed by complex biological transformations of Holocene sediments depends on the location of the acquisition. Latvian freshwater sapropelcould be used as raw material for getting sapropel extract and use it as remedy. The quality criteria for raw sapropel and its extractsshould include minimum requirements for biologically active substance concentration, pH values, antioxidants as well as physical characteristics. The main goal of the project is to carry out detailed and systematic research on the medical properties of sapropel to be obtained in Latvia, to promote its scientifically based use in balneology, to develop new medical procedures and services, and to promote the development of new exportable products. Keywords - Sapropel, medical mud, sapropel extracts, Latvian Lakes, freshwater, balneology