Accumulation of high concentration fluoride in the Ulungur Lake water through weathering of fluoride containing rocks in Xinjiang, China.

Fluoride is a potential contaminant at high concentrations when used for drinking due to its adverse human health effects. The Ulungur Lake in Xinjiang, China has a long history of high fluoride concentration in lake water, but the mechanism leading to such high concentrations of fluoride is still unclear. In this study we evaluate the fluoride concentration in different water bodies and upstream rock formations in the Ulungur watershed.