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The study included water samples from 10 test points located in the northern parts of Sanok and Lesko counties. The following analytical methods have been used: AAS (FAAS, CVAAS, HGAAS), ICP-MS, ICP-OES, Ion chromatography, Acid-base titration, argentometry, turbidimetry and also bacteriological tests. Two sources were identified as "natural mineral hard medium-mineralised waters" with low iron content. Four sulphide springs have been found. The Lesko source can be characterized as "a specific therapeutic sulphide water" with a content of divalent sulphur, determined iodometrically, above 1 mg • dm-3 and without any bacteriological concerns. Water from Lesko, apart from small amounts of metaboric and orthosilicic acid, is slightly alkaline with a strong negative ORP potential (-230 mV), which makes it healthy (an antioxidant that eliminates free radicals). In all waters the presence of heavy metals, arsenic, lithium, iron, manganese, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals has been indicated. The influence on the human body of analytically marked substances has been described.

Aim of the studyThe aim of the study was to demonstrate the medical properties of spring waters from Lesko based on their physicochemical analysis. Material and methodsThere are three active sulphide springs and one mineral spring in Lesko. In water samples from Lesko (1, 2, 3) sulphides and hydrogen sulphide (divalent sulphur) were determined. The sulphide and hydrogen sulphide concentration in the springs was determined with iodometric, photometric and thiomercurimetric methods. All samples were checked for the presence of 7 heavy metals with the AAS method. In all examined waters, an additional quantitative analysis of such components as metaboric acid, orthosilicic acid, sulphur, bromine, iodine was carried out with two methods: the ICP-MS and the ICP-OES. Also, fluorine content was determined with ion chromatography. Results and conclusionsAll waters from Lesko, except mineral water, contain sulphides. No heavy metals, including mercury and arsenic, were detected in all spring waters. No lithium or significant amount of iron and manganese were found. In the waters (1, 2, 3) no selenium and molybdenum were found. In the examined waters (1, 2, 3, 4), metaboric acid, orthosilicic acid, fluorine and iodides were found