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Liu H, Guo H, Pourret O, Wang Z. Anthropogenic impact of rare earth elements on groundwater and surface water in the watershed of the largest freshwater lake in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 949:175063. [PMID: 39067591 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Limited knowledge exists regarding the potential risks associated with anthropogenic release of rare earth elements (REEs) in the environment. This study aimed to investigate REE signatures in the watershed Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China. Samples of surface water, wastewater, and groundwater were collected from five rivers discharging into the lake. Results revealed wastewater from wastewater treatment plants contained total REE concentrations from 231 to 904 μg/L, exceeding those found in surface water (0.4 to 1.3 μg/L) and groundwater (0.5 to 416 μg/L). Samples with elevated REE were found in Ca-Mg-Cl/SO4 type waters and exhibited an 18OD deviation from local meteoric water line. Wastewater exhibited a higher positive Gd anomaly compared to surface water and groundwater, attributed to anthropogenic input of Gd (Gdanth). The determined Gdanth concentration ranged from 0.04 to 0.21 μg/L, and from 0.06 to 0.37 μg/L, accounting for 4 % to 21 % and 49 % to 84 % of total Gd concentrations in groundwater and surface water, respectively. Gdanth concentration in wastewater (0.19 to 0.43 μg/L) remained constant in effluent after wastewater treatment. Surface water displayed relatively complex normalized REE patterns influenced by anthropogenic activities and natural processes (weathering and complexation), while groundwater exhibited heavy REEs enrichment, due to carbonate solution complexation. Additionally, Gdanth concentration showed a positive correlation with ΣREE, Pb, Ni, and Co concentrations in groundwater, indicating a good pollution tracing potential. Health risk assessment using the hazard quotient (HQ) suggested higher HQGd values in groundwater compared to surface water. Residents in the eastern part of Poyang Lake were found to face higher risks associated with Gd in groundwater compared to the western part, with infants and children at greater risk than adult males and females. These findings offer valuable insights into environmental behavior and health risks of REEs in aquatic systems impacted by human activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Genesis and Remediation of Groundwater Pollution and School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China.
| | - Huaming Guo
- MWR Key Laboratory of Groundwater Conservation and School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, PR China
| | | | - Zhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Genesis and Remediation of Groundwater Pollution and School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, PR China
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Kang S, Ling B, Wang G, Xu Y, Xu J, Liang X, Wei J, Tan W, Ma L, Zhu J, He H. Transport dynamics of rare earth elements in weathering crust soils. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 930:172843. [PMID: 38685421 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
In modern industries, rare earth elements (REEs) are considered as essential metals and invaluable natural resources. Ion-adsorption deposits (IADs) are repositories of REE in the weathering crust soils, in which REEs are adsorbed on clay minerals. In the last few decades, the mining of REEs from IADs has caused substantial environmental damage owing to the overuse of leaching agents for the desorption and transport of REEs in weathering crust soils. These environmental issues have sparked extensive research interest in modeling REE transport dynamics in weathering crust soils. Nevertheless, because current models treat REE adsorption and transport independently, they do not accurately describe REE transport dynamics. Therefore, in this study, a unified workflow that synergizes adsorption and transport dynamics is proposed to predict REE transport. The adsorption of REEs on IADs was found to follow the Freundlich isotherm with the coefficient of determination exceeding 0.9826. The adsorption capacities of La3+, Sm3+, Er3+, and Y3+ reach 1.3127, 1.4423, 1.5793, and 1.1061 mg g-1 at 300 ppm, respectively. For the breakthrough curve, an advection-dispersion-adsorption-equation (ADAE) model was developed and utilized to accurately and reliably predict REE transport dynamics in soil columns. It was found the saturation time of REEs in soils is 39.22, 44.15, 50.64, and 32.17 h, respectively at 2 mL min-1 and decreased with the increase of flow velocity. The upper and lower limits of REE transport are ADAE-Freundlich and ADAE-Toth. More importantly, the model was applied to simulate REEs transport in field-scale weathering crusts over 100 years and predict REE accumulation in the highly weathered layered, which is found in natural weathering crusts. The qualitative prediction of REE transport dynamics in weathering crusts may help fundamentally lower the usage of leaching agents and mitigate concomitant the environmental impacts of mining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shichang Kang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Material, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bowen Ling
- Key Laboratory for Mechanics in Fluid Solid Coupling Systems, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Engineering Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Gaofeng Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Material, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Yongjin Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Material, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jie Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Material, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaoliang Liang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Material, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jingming Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Material, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Tan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Material, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lingya Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Material, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianxi Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Material, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hongping He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mineralogy and Metallogeny/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Material, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Hu J, Wang P, Li J, Zhang Q, Tian L, Liu T, Ma W, Zheng H. Hazard profiles, distribution trends, and sources tracing of rare earth elements in dust of kindergartens in Beijing. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 358:124374. [PMID: 38906400 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Children, the most vulnerable group in urban populations, are susceptible to the effects of pollution in urban environments. It is significant to evaluate the influence of rare earth elements (REEs) from kindergartens dust (KD) in Beijing on children's health. This study collected surface dust from 73 kindergartens in 16 districts of the mega-city of Beijing, and the concentrations of 14 REEs in KD, including La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu, were detected. The contamination levels, source apportionment, and health exposure risk of REEs were comprehensively investigated. The results indicate that the contamination levels of 14 REEs are within the acceptable range. Nevertheless, Eu, Ce, La, Pr, Nd, Gd, and Sm show high enrichment due to anthropogenic influence. Besides, KD is rich in light rare earth elements (LREEs) (90.97 mg kg-1) compared to heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) (8.65 mg kg-1). The distribution parameter patterns of REEs suggest that complicated anthropogenic sources influence the enrichment of REEs in KD. The main sources of REEs in KD include natural sources (40.64%), mixed high-tech industries and construction (33.89%), and mixed coal-fired, historical industrial, and transportation sources (26.47%). The primary pathway for daily intake of REEs in children is through ingestion, which presents a low but not negligible health risk. This study provides guidance for the effective risk management of REEs in KD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Hu
- The State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China.
| | - Peng Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China; Institute of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Jun Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, PR China
| | - Liyan Tian
- Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China
| | - Tingyi Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300387, PR China
| | - Wenmin Ma
- The State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China; Institute of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Houyi Zheng
- China National Administration of Coal Geology, Beijing, 100038, PR China
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da Costa Alves Filho PP, da Silveira Pereira WV, Dias YN, Ferreira de Moraes AL, Rodrigues FHS, Ramos SJ, Santos de Souza E, Fontes do Amaral AM, Fernandes AR. Artisanal mining of monazite and cassiterite in the Amazon: Potential risks of rare earth elements for the environment and human health. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 73:1201-1214. [PMID: 38573351 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-024-01964-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Artisanal mining is intensely carried out in developing countries, including Brazil and especially in the Amazon. This method of mineral exploration generally does not employ mitigation techniques for potential damages and can lead to various environmental problems and risks to human health. The objectives of this study were to quantify the concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) and estimate the environmental and human health risks in cassiterite and monazite artisanal mining areas in the southeastern Amazon, as well as to understand the dynamics of this risk over time after exploitation. A total of 35 samples of wastes classified as overburden and tailings in active areas, as well as in areas deactivated for one and ten years were collected. Samples were also collected in a forest area considered as a reference site. The concentrations of REEs were quantified using alkaline fusion and ICP-MS. The results were used to calculate pollution indices and environmental and human health risks. REEs showed higher concentrations in anthropized areas. Pollution and environmental risk levels were higher in areas deactivated for one year, with considerable contamination factors for Gd and Sm and significant to extreme enrichment factors for Sc. Human health risks were low (< 1) in all studied areas. The results indicate that artisanal mining of cassiterite and monazite has the potential to promote contamination and enrichment by REEs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yan Nunes Dias
- Vale Institute of Technology, Belém, Pará, 66055-090, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Edna Santos de Souza
- Federal University of Southern and Southeastern Pará, São Félix do Xingu, Pará, 68380-000, Brazil
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Krupnova T, Rakova O, Simakhina V. RARE-EARTH elements in the topsoils of a Russian industrial city: Sources and human health risk assessment. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 357:142059. [PMID: 38653397 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Research on rare-earth elements (REEs) in urban soils of Russian industrial cities is extremely limited. This study investigates the potential sources and human health risks of REEs contained in the topsoils of the industrial Russian city of Chelyabinsk. The study also takes into account natural sources of REE as the city is located on the border of granites (Urals) and sedimentary rocks (Western Siberia). We analyzed the concentration and distribution of REEs in the soils of four types of locations: residential courtyards, city parks, roadsides, and industrial locations. The total REE concentrations ranged from 44 to 255 mg/kg, with average concentrations of 140, 124, 113 and 89 mg/kg in the courtyards, roadsides, industrial location and city parks, respectively. The REE content in courtyard soils could be influenced by poor cleaning of fallen leaves. The ratios of light REE (LREE) to heavy REE (HREE) ranged from 9.5 to 10.1, revealing an obvious fractionation between them. The fractionation of LREE and HREE, and the REE/ES (European Shale) pattern showed that REE accumulation in Chelyabinsk soils has been disturbed by human activities. It was shown that the dust from industrial emissions was the main anthropogenic source of REE accumulation in urban soil. The largest amounts of REEs are emitted from an electrometallurgical plant and zinc production plant. Fortunately, the estimated daily intakes of REE from soils for children and adults were well below the safety thresholds. At the same time, in order to prevent social tension and reduce the anthropogenic load on the urban area, it is recommended to use phytoremediation technologies, smart landscaping of industrial and residential areas, more thorough cleaning of fallen leaves and road dust. It is also recommended to move the most dangerous production processes outside the urban area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana Krupnova
- Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, South Ural State University, 76 Prospect Lenina, Chelyabinsk, 454080, Russia.
| | - Olga Rakova
- Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, South Ural State University, 76 Prospect Lenina, Chelyabinsk, 454080, Russia
| | - Valeria Simakhina
- Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, South Ural State University, 76 Prospect Lenina, Chelyabinsk, 454080, Russia
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Li Y, Saparov G, Zeng T, Abuduwaili J, Ma L. Geochemical behavior of rare earth elements in agricultural soils along the Syr Darya River within the Aral Sea Basin. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:493. [PMID: 38691227 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12647-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The widespread use of rare earth elements (REEs) across various industries makes them a new type of pollutant. Additionally, REEs are powerful indicators of geochemical processes. As one of the two main rivers in the Aral Sea, identifying the geochemical behavior of REEs in agricultural soils of the Syr Darya River is of great significance for subsequent indicative studies. In this study, the geochemical characteristics, influencing factors, and potential application significance of REEs in agricultural soils from three sampling areas along the Syr Darya River were analyzed using soil geography and elemental geochemical analyses. The results showed that the highest total concentration of REEs in the agricultural soil was in Area I, with a mean value of 142.49 μg/g, followed by Area III with a mean value of 124.56 μg/g, and the lowest concentration was in Area II with a mean value of 122.48 μg/g. The agricultural soils in the three regions were enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs), with mean L/H values of 10.54, 10.13, and 10.24, respectively. The differentiation between light and heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) was also high. The concentration of REEs in agricultural soil along the Syr Darya River was primarily influenced by minerals such as monazite and zircon, rather than human activities (the pollution index of all REEs was less than 1.5). The relationship between Sm and Gd can differentiate soils impacted by agricultural activities from natural background soils. The results of this study can serve as a basis for indicative studies of REEs in Central Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Galymzhan Saparov
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Kazakh Research Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry Named After U. U. Uspanov, Almaty, 050060, Kazakhstan
| | - Tao Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jilili Abuduwaili
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Long Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China.
- Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Utilization in Arid Zone, Urumqi, 830011, China.
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Lin Z, Zhang Y, Liang X, Huang G, Fan F, Yin X, Chen Z. Spatial distribution of rare earth elements and their impact factors in an area with a high abundance of regolith-hosted deposits. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 352:141374. [PMID: 38342144 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Despite the widespread occurrence of regolith-hosted rare earth elements (REEs) across South China, their spatial distribution characteristics in soils and their impact factors remain largely uncertain. This knowledge gap impedes the exploration of regolith-hosted REE deposits and the assessment of the environmental risks associated with REEs. To address this issue, 180 soil samples were collected from Meizhou City, Guangdong Province, a region known for its high abundance of regolith-hosted REEs. Subsequently, the correlations between REE enrichment/fractionation and various factors, i.e., topography, climate conditions, land use, and landform were analysed using the geo-detector method. The results revealed a highly uneven spatial distribution of REEs and their fractionation features with some regions displaying distinct spatial patterns. Elevation was the dominant factor influencing this distribution, and showed strong correlations with the concentrations of REEs, light REEs (LREEs) and heavy REEs (HREEs); the LREE/HREE ratio; and the positive Ce anomaly (δCe). The negative Eu anomaly (δEu) showed a good correlation with rock type. The enrichment and fractionation of REEs indicated a coupling among the abovementioned factors. For REE enrichment, areas with elevations of 138-148 m, precipitation levels of 1553-1574 mm, annual average land surface temperatures of 30.4-30.5 °C, leaf area index values of 22-29 and surface cutting degree of 21.5-29.9 m showed the highest average abundance within each type (scope) of the predominant factors. These findings highlight the key factors affecting REE distribution, thereby aiding the efficient utilization of regolith-hosted REE resources and the evaluation of their environmental risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoling Lin
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; Guangdong Public Laboratory of Geospatial Information Technology and Application, Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences Guangzhou, 510070, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Yaduo Zhang
- School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Xiaoliang Liang
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Physics and Material Research & Development, Guangzhou, 510640, PR China.
| | - Guangqing Huang
- Guangdong Public Laboratory of Geospatial Information Technology and Application, Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences Guangzhou, 510070, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Fenglei Fan
- School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China.
| | - Xiaoling Yin
- Guangdong Public Laboratory of Geospatial Information Technology and Application, Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences Guangzhou, 510070, PR China
| | - Zhihao Chen
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, PR China
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8
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Pereira WVDS, Ramos SJ, Melo LCA, Dias YN, Martins GC, Ferreira LCG, Fernandes AR. Human and environmental exposure to rare earth elements in gold mining areas in the northeastern Amazon. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 340:139824. [PMID: 37586491 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Rudimentary methods are used to exploit gold (Au) in several artisanal mines in the Amazon, producing hazardous wastes that may pose risks of contamination by rare earth elements (REEs). The objectives of this study were to quantify the concentrations of REEs and assess their environmental and human health risks in artisanal Au mining areas in the northeastern Amazon. Thus, 25 samples of soils and mining wastes were collected in underground, colluvial, and cyanidation exploration sites, as well as in a natural forest that was considered as a reference area. The concentrations of REEs were quantified using alkaline fusion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the results were used to estimate pollution indices and risks associated with the contaminants. All REEs showed higher concentrations in waste deposition areas than in the reference area, especially Ce, Sc, Nd, La, Pr, Sm, and Eu. Pollution and enrichment levels were higher in the underground and cyanidation mining areas, with very high contamination factors (6.2-27) for Ce, Eu, La, Nd, Pr, Sm, and Sc, and significant to very high enrichment factors (5.5-20) for Ce, La, Nd, Pr, and Sc. The ecological risk indices varied from moderate (167.3) to high (365.7) in the most polluted sites, but risks to human health were low in all areas studied. The results of this study indicate that artisanal Au mining has the potential to cause contamination, enrichment, and ecological risks by REEs in the northeastern Amazon. Mitigation measures should be implemented to protect the environment from the negative impacts of these contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendel Valter da Silveira Pereira
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal Rural University of the Amazon, 66077-830, Belém, Pará, Brazil; Vale Institute of Technology - Sustainable Development, 66055-090, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
| | - Sílvio Junio Ramos
- Vale Institute of Technology - Sustainable Development, 66055-090, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Leônidas Carrijo Azevedo Melo
- Department of Soil Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Lavras, 37200-900, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Yan Nunes Dias
- Vale Institute of Technology - Sustainable Development, 66055-090, Belém, Pará, Brazil
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9
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Zhang X, Du W, Xu Z, Cundy AB, Croudace IW, Zhang W, Jin H, Chen J. The distribution and enrichment of trace elements in surface and core sediments from the Changjiang River Estuary, China: Evidence for anthropogenic inputs and enhanced availability of rare earth elements (REE). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:115082. [PMID: 37352799 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Huge amount of trace metals emitted through manmade activities are carried by the Changjiang River into the East China Sea. Most of them deposit in the Changjiang River Estuary and threaten the regional aquatic environment. In this study, major and trace elements of 34 archive surface sediments and two cores are examined. Sequential extraction procedures were also performed on surface sediments from 12 sites. We found that Tl, Tm, Er show distinct accumulation in surface sediments in the order of Tm > Tl > Er. Particularly, abnormally elevated HREE are observed mainly in those sites near the mouth of the estuary. Most elements exhibit an obvious reduction in the upper 30 cm of core B8, reflecting a decrease of sediment discharge from Changjiang River runoff. The increase of some trace elements recorded in the upper 20 cm of core C3 demonstrates a distinct local anthropogenic input in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Zhang
- School of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya 572000, China.
| | - Wen Du
- South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 511442, China
| | - Zhijie Xu
- School of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Andrew B Cundy
- GAU-Radioanalytical, School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), University of Southampton, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Ian W Croudace
- GAU-Radioanalytical, School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), University of Southampton, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Weiyan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry, State Oceanic Administration and Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Haiyan Jin
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry, State Oceanic Administration and Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Jianfang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry, State Oceanic Administration and Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China
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10
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Feng Y, Wu J, Lu H, Lao W, Zhan H, Lin L, Liu G, Deng Y. Cytotoxicity and hemolysis of rare earth ions and nanoscale/bulk oxides (La, Gd, and Yb): Interaction with lipid membranes and protein corona formation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163259. [PMID: 37011679 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The widespread application of rare earth elements (REEs) has raised concerns about their potential release into the environment and subsequent ingestion by humans. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the cytotoxicity of REEs. Here, we investigated the interactions between three typical REEs (La, Gd, and Yb) ions as well as their nanometer/μm-sized oxides and red blood cells (RBCs), a plausible contact target for nanoparticles when they enter the bloodstream. Hemolysis of REEs at 50-2000 μmol L-1 was examined to simulate their cytotoxicity under medical or occupational exposure. We found that the hemolysis due to the exposure of REEs was highly dependent on their concentration, and the cytotoxicity followed the order of La3+ > Gd3+ > Yb3+. The cytotoxicity of REE ions (REIs) is higher than REE oxides (REOs), while nanometer-sized REO caused more hemolysis than that μm-sized REO. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ROS quenching experiment, as well as the detection of lipid peroxidation, confirmed that REEs causes cell membrane rupture by ROS-related chemical oxidation. In addition, we found that the formation of a protein corona on REEs increased the steric repulsion between REEs and cell membranes, hence mitigating the cytotoxicity of REEs. The theoretical simulation indicated the favorable interaction of REEs with phospholipids and proteins. Therefore, our findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the cytotoxicity of REEs to RBCs once they have entered the blood circulation system of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiping Feng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jingyi Wu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Haijian Lu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Contaminated Sites Environmental Management and Remediation, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou 510045, China
| | - Wenhao Lao
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hongda Zhan
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Longyong Lin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Contaminated Sites Environmental Management and Remediation, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou 510045, China
| | - Guoguang Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yirong Deng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Contaminated Sites Environmental Management and Remediation, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou 510045, China.
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11
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Wang M, Yang M, Fan T, Wang D, He J, Wu H, Si D, Wang M, Wu S, Zhou D. Activating soil nitrification by co-application of peanut straw biochar and organic fertilizer in a rare earth mining soil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 866:161506. [PMID: 36626999 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The intensive mining activities to extract rare earth elements from ion-adsorption rare earth deposits have introduced massive amounts of ammonium into the tailing soils in southern China. Compared to the ubiquitous soil nitrification in cropland, forest, and grassland soils, however, there is no feasible strategy to alleviate the ammonium contamination in tailing soil. Herein, the feasibility to remove ammonium by adding ammonium adsorbents (e.g., biochar, activated carbon, and zeolite), alkaline materials, and organic fertilizer to the rare earth mining soil was explored. The amendment of rice straw biochar, activated carbon, or zeolite in combination with CaCO3 and organic fertilizer showed no significant effect on ammonium removal due to their limited capacity to elevate soil pH. However, the co-application of peanut straw biochar (PSBC), CaCO3, and organic fertilizer activated both the ammonia volatilization and soil nitrification processes. Specifically, the three components functioned as follows: organic fertilizer supplied active ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB); PSBC stimulated AOB proliferation by elevating soil pH above 7.75; CaCO3 ameliorated soil acidity and reduced the lag time for activating soil nitrification. The soil ammonium removal and nitrate accumulation rates were positively correlated to the acid neutralization capacity of PSBC prepared at 400 °C-800 °C. The qPCR and microbial community analysis results indicated that Nitrosomonas europaea was the dominant AOB that was responsible for enhanced soil nitrification. Our findings pave the way for developing cost-effective strategies to remediate ammonium contamination in rare earth mining soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Min Yang
- Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Tingting Fan
- Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Dengjun Wang
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Jianzhou He
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Haotian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Dunfeng Si
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Mei Wang
- College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China
| | - Song Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Dongmei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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12
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Liu Q, Shi H, An Y, Ma J, Zhao W, Qu Y, Chen H, Liu L, Wu F. Source, environmental behavior and potential health risk of rare earth elements in Beijing urban park soils. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130451. [PMID: 36444807 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) have been increasingly diffused to the environment due to their extensive use and application in industries, agriculture, and high-tech devices, which have been regarded as emerge pollutants. However, the study concerning REEs in urban soils is still limited. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the potential source and risk of REEs in urban environment. We analyzed the concentration and distribution of REEs in urban park soils, and performed a combination of micro geochemical method and random forest method to characterize the pollution sources of REEs. The results showed that the ΣREE concentrations in Beijing urban park soils ranged from 117.19 to 198.09 mg/kg. Spatial distribution indicated that the high concentrations of REEs were mainly concentrated in the west of Beijing near an industrial area. The geochemical parameters, micro spherules and random forest results confirmed the anthropogenic pollution sources from industry and traffic. Risk assessment showed that the average daily doses of total REEs for children and adults were far below the reference threshold with values of 0.08 and 0.02 µg/kg/day, respectively. Our study has exhibited that though the reconstruction of parks from abandoned industrial sites showed an accumulation of REEs, the health risk of REEs for human beings are negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Huading Shi
- Technical Centre for Soil, Agricultural and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Yanfei An
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Jin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Wenhao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Yajing Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Haiyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Lingling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Fengcheng Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
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13
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Dai W, Zhang P, Yang F, Wang M, Yang H, Li Z, Wang M, Liu R, Huang Y, Wu S, He G, Zhou J, Wei C. Effects of composite materials and revegetation on soil nutrients, chemical and microbial properties in rare earth tailings. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 850:157854. [PMID: 35940274 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The mining of ionic rare earth elements in Ganzhou left large area of barren tailings with severe vegetation destruction in pressing needs of remediation. However, the remediating effects of soil additives combined with revegetation on the preservation of nutrients in the tailings and microbial communities were rarely studied. For this purpose, pilot experiments were implemented in a field, with the control group (CK) only cultivating plants without adding materials, and three treatments including peanut straw biochar composite (T1), phosphorus‑magnesium composite (T2) and modified zeolite composite (T3) along with the cultivation of Medicago sativa L., Paspalum vaginatum Sw. and Lolium perenne L. Soil pH and organic matter in CK significantly decreased from 4.90 to 4.17 and from 6.62 g/kg to 3.87 g/kg after six months, respectively (p ≤ 0.05), while all the treatments could effectively buffer soil acidification (over 5.74) and delay the loss of soil organic matter. Soil cation exchange capacity was still below the detection limit in all the groups except T2. The results of rainfall runoff monitoring indicated that compared with CK, only T2 could significantly reduce the runoff loss of soil NO3- and SO42- by 45.61 %-75.78 % and 64.03 %-76.12 %, respectively (p ≤ 0.05). Compared with CK, the bacterial diversity in T2 and T3 significantly increased 21.18 % and 28.15 %, respectively (p ≤ 0.05), while T1 didn't change the bacterial or fungal diversity (p > 0.05). Co-occurrence network analysis showed that compared with CK, the whole microbial communities interacted more closely in the three treatments. Functional prediction of the microbial communities revealed all the treatments were dominated by carbon transforming bacteria and saprotrophic fungi except T2. This study demonstrated that the composite materials combined with revegetation couldn't retain soil nitrogen compounds and sulfate in rare earth tailings in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijie Dai
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Min Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Huixian Yang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zhiying Li
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Mei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Renlu Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Pollution Prevention and Control in Red Soil Hilly Region of Jiangxi Province, Jinggangshan University, Jian 343009, China
| | - Yuanying Huang
- National Research Center for Geoanalysis, Beijing 100037, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Natural Resources for Eco-geochemistry, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Song Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Genhe He
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Pollution Prevention and Control in Red Soil Hilly Region of Jiangxi Province, Jinggangshan University, Jian 343009, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Chaoyang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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14
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Li W, Zuo Y, Wang L, Wan X, Yang J, Liang T, Song H, Weihrauch C, Rinklebe J. Abundance, spatial variation, and sources of rare earth elements in soils around ion-adsorbed rare earth mining areas. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 313:120099. [PMID: 36084740 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) concentrated in soils have attracted increasing attention about their impact on soil health as emerging contaminants. However, the sources of REEs enriched in soils are diverse and need to be further investigated. Here, surface soil samples were collected from southern Jiangxi Province, China. REEs contents and soil physicochemical properties were determined, and cerium (Ce) and europium (Eu) anomalies were calculated. Moreover, we established a model to further identify the main sources of REEs accumulation in the studied soils. Results show that the abundance of soil REEs reveals larger spatial variation, suggesting spatially heterogeneous distribution of REEs. The median content of light REEs in soils (154.5 mg kg-1) of the study area was higher than that of heavy REEs and yttrium (35.8 mg kg-1). In addition, most of the soil samples present negative Ce anomalies and all the soil samples present negative Eu anomalies implying the combined effect of weathering and potential exogenous inputs on soil REEs. Positive matrix factorization modeling reveals that soil REEs content is primarily influenced by soil parent materials. Potential anthropogenic sources include mining-related leachate, traffic exhaust, and industrial dust. These results demonstrate that the identification of sources of soil REEs is an important starting point for targeted REEs sources management and regulation of excessive and potentially harmful REEs levels in the soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanshu Li
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yiping Zuo
- Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing, 100035, China
| | - Lingqing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285, Wuppertal, Germany.
| | - Xiaoming Wan
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Tao Liang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hocheol Song
- Department of Environment, Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Christoph Weihrauch
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Jörg Rinklebe
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285, Wuppertal, Germany; Department of Environment, Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Republic of Korea
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15
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Salfate G, Sánchez J. Rare Earth Elements Uptake by Synthetic Polymeric and Cellulose-Based Materials: A Review. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:4786. [PMID: 36365775 PMCID: PMC9654408 DOI: 10.3390/polym14214786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Contemporary industrial processes and the application of new technologies have increased the demand for rare earth elements (REEs). REEs are critical components for many applications related to semiconductors, luminescent molecules, catalysts, batteries, and so forth. REEs refer to a group of 17 elements that have similar chemical properties. REE mining has increased considerably in the last decade and is starting an REE supply crisis. Recently, the viability of secondary REE sources, such as mining wastewaters and acid mine drainage (AMD), has been considered. A strategy to recover REEs from secondary water-related sources is through the usage of adsorbents and ion exchange materials in preconcentration steps due to their presence in low concentrations. In the search for more sustainable processes, the evaluation of synthetic polymers and natural source materials, such as cellulose-based materials, for REE capture from secondary sources should be considered. In this review, the chemistry, sources, extraction, uses, and environmental impact of REEs are briefly described to finally focus on the study of different adsorption/ion exchange materials and their performance in capturing REEs from water sources, moving from commercially available ion exchange resins to cellulose-based materials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julio Sánchez
- Departamento de Ciencias del Ambiente, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile
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