Like many elements, fluorine (which generally occurs in nature as fluoride) is beneficial to human health in trace amounts but can be toxic in excess. The links between low intakes of fluoride and dental protection are well known, however, fluoride is a powerful calcium-seeking element and can interfere with the calcified structure of bones and teeth in the human body at higher concentration causing dental or skeletal fluorosis. One of the main exposure routes is via drinking water and the World Health Organisation currently set water quality guidelines for the element. In Central Europe, groundwater resources that exceed the guideline value of 1.5 mg L
The Forum of European Geological Surveys (FOREGS) includes Geological Surveys from 34 European countries and is responsible for co-ordinating Geological Survey activities in Europe. The FOREGS Geochemistry Task Group was established in 1994 to supervise European geochemical mapping policy for environmental, legislative, resource-management and scientific purposes. The task group comprises representatives from five countries, charged initially with the compilation of an inventory of geochemical data within FOREGS countries. The preparation of European Geochemical Baseline maps will involve the integration of different national datasets following the recommendations of the International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP) Project 259 "International Geochemical Mapping". Results of the inventory show that most geochemical surveys in Europe conform to the IGCP 259 recommendations. Stream sediment (26% coverage), surface water (19% coverage), soil/till (21% coverage) and radiometric data (19% coverage) are the most extensive sample types, and the majority of surveys (81%) have been carried out at sampling densities of ≤ 1 sample per 100 km 2 . Most filtered-water surveys are based on a filter size of 0.45µm, and 83% of stream sediment surveys collect samples sieved at 100-200 µm. The collection of the Global Reference Network (GRN) samples recommended by IGCP 259 to provide internationally standardised geochemical data and the careful use of statistical and mapgeneration techniques should facilitate the levelling of different national datasets and preparation of a European Geochemical Baseline.
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