Universal Journal of Geoscience Vol. 9(1), pp. 1 - 20
DOI: 10.13189/ujg.2022.090101
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Occurrence, Origin and Health Hazards of High Fluoride Waters in the Western Part of the Neogene Sedimentary Basin in Opole Province, Poland

Lidia Razowska-Jaworek ^*, Joanna Cudak
Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute, Upper Silesian Branch, ul. Królowej Jadwigi 1 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland

ABSTRACT

High fluoride content exceeding permissible limits for drinking water and causing numerous incidents of fluorosis disease in the population of Nysa town was the reason for the closure of the deepest wells in the western part of the Neogene groundwater basin Paczków-Niemodlin in the Opole region in Poland. Hydrochemical studies conducted by the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute resulted in the recognition and extent of fluoride anomaly in the groundwater extracted from the Neogene basin in southern Poland. The studies provided a comprehensive recognition of hydrogeological and chemical conditions of the aquifer located in the Neogene basin characterized by a series of fine-grained sands within a series of clays. The content of fluoride in groundwater is high; the average is 2.1 mg/L, maximum value reached 11.5 mg/l, exceeding several times the permissible limit for drinking waters (1.5 mg/L). The main objective of this study was to determine the source of high concentrations of fluoride in groundwater in the western part of Paczków-Niemodlin basin where the highest concentrations were observed. The investigations confirmed the increase in fluoride content with the decreasing altitude of the aquifers. Various factors that may form the chemistry of these groundwater were analyzed. The most probable source of high fluoride content in groundwater in this basin is their long-term contact with Precambrian and Palaeozoic igneous and metamorphic rocks containing fluorine-rich minerals along with the location near large fault zones, which may be privileged water flowpaths from greater depths.

KEYWORDS
Hydrochemistry, Groundwater, Fluoride, Fluorosis, Poland

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Lidia Razowska-Jaworek , Joanna Cudak , "Occurrence, Origin and Health Hazards of High Fluoride Waters in the Western Part of the Neogene Sedimentary Basin in Opole Province, Poland," Universal Journal of Geoscience, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 1 - 20, 2022. DOI: 10.13189/ujg.2022.090101.

(b). APA Format:
Lidia Razowska-Jaworek , Joanna Cudak (2022). Occurrence, Origin and Health Hazards of High Fluoride Waters in the Western Part of the Neogene Sedimentary Basin in Opole Province, Poland. Universal Journal of Geoscience, 9(1), 1 - 20. DOI: 10.13189/ujg.2022.090101.