Hydrochemical gradients driving extremophile distribution in saline and brine groundwater of southern Poland.

Extreme environments, such as highly saline ecosystems, are characterised by a limited presence of microbial communities capable of tolerating and thriving under these conditions. To better understand the limits of life and its chemical and microbiological drivers, highly saline and brine groundwaters of Na-Cl and Na-Ca-Cl types with notably diverse SO contents were sampled in water intakes and springs from sedimentary aquifers located in the Outer Carpathians and the Carpathian Foredeep basin and its basement in Poland. Chemical and microbiological methods were used to identify the composition of groundwaters, determine microbial diversity, and indicate processes controlling their distribution using multivariate statistical analyses.

Towards a better practice in water sampling: Case studies on used in practice geothermal waters.

The state-of-the-art of sampling procedures is specified in appropriate guidelines, but there is a permanent need to minimise the risk to the water sample quality, in particular for waters with specific characteristics such as geothermal waters. Improper sampling leads to erroneous results and, consequently, e.g.

Redox potential research in the field of balneochemistry: case study on equilibrium approach to bioactive elements in therapeutic waters.

In some countries (e.g. Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Russia, Germany), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) measurements are required to document the quality of groundwater which are planned to be used as therapeutic waters.

Hydrogeochemical and biomedical insights into germanium potential of curative waters: a case study of health resorts in the Sudetes Mountains (Poland).

Germanium is considered to be a non-essential element; however, little is still known about its significance for living organisms. It exerts prophylactic and therapeutic effects in the treatment of serious diseases such as cancer, HIV infection, and others. Germanium does not exhibit acute toxicity, but, as it tends to accumulate in various organs and tissues, undesirable and even dangerous side effects have been reported after prolonged and/or high dosage application.