Direct Quantification of Rare Earth Elements Concentrations in Urine of Workers Manufacturing Cerium, Lanthanum Oxide Ultrafine and Nanoparticles by a Developed and Validated ICP-MS

What are exposure biomarkers of rare earth elements for the ionic rare earth occupational population?

Rare earth elements (REEs) are widely utilized in industries. However, The specific exposure features of REEs and potential biomarkers of exposure in occupational populations remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the external and internal REEs exposure levels among the participants working in the ionic rare earth smelting plant. For the external exposure, the concentrations of 14 REEs and total rare earth elements (ΣREEs) in airborne particles were significantly elevated in the REEs-exposed versus non-exposed group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the levels of Yttrium (Y), Gadolinium (Gd), Terbium (Tb), Dysprosium (Dy), Holmium (Ho), Thulium (Tm), Ytterbium (Yb), and ΣREEs in urine were higher in the REEs-exposed group compared to the non-exposed group (P < 0.05). Notably, a significant positive correlation was observed between Y in both the airborne particles and urine samples as well as Gd, and the Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.53 and 0.39 respectively, both P < 0.05. Conversely, no statistically significant differences were found in the levels of 15 REEs or ΣREEs in the blood samples between the REEs-exposed group and non-exposed group. Moreover, the concentrations of ΣREEs and 9 REEs in nail samples of the exposed group were significantly higher than those of the non-exposed group (P < 0.05), and the composition ratios of REEs in the nail samples closely resembled those found in individual airborne particles. Therefore, nail and urine samples were proposed to reflect long-term and short-term exposure to ionic rare earth respectively. Exposure biomarkers confirmed by external and internal exposure characteristics accurately provide the situation of human exposure to REEs environment, and have profound significance for monitoring and evaluating the level of REEs pollution in human body. It also provides a vital basis to find out the effect biomarkers, susceptible biomarkers and the health effects of rare earth environment for the future research.

Biological monitoring of exposure to rare earth elements and selected metals in the Inuit population of Nunavik, Canada

In Nunavik (Northern Quebec, Canada), some mining projects are envisioned, that could increase the contamination of the environment by various chemicals, including rare earth elements (REEs), and implicitly Inuit population exposure. The objective of this study was to determine the baseline biological exposure of the population to these elements, before the potential mining development occurs. In the framework of the 2017 Qanuilirpitaa? Inuit health survey, urine samples were obtained from a representative sample of the adult Nunavik population, which were used to constitute 30 pooled samples according to age, sex and Nunavik subregions. Pooled samples were analyzed using sensitive and accurate methods involving ICP-MS platforms to quantify urinary concentrations of 17 REEs and 7 elements of interest in Nunavik (arsenic, antimony, chromium, cobalt, nickel, thallium and uranium). REEs were mostly not detected in pooled samples from this population. Detectable concentrations were found in some samples for cerium (range: 0.5-0.7 nmol/L; 27% > method detection limit (MDL) and lanthanum (range: 0.2-0.4 nmol/L; 33% > MDL). As for the other elements of interest, antimony, arsenic, cobalt and thallium were detected in 100% of the samples, whereas chromium and nickel were detected in 83% and 80% of the samples, respectively. Concentrations of arsenic (geometric mean (GM) = 0.5 μmol/L) and cobalt (GM = 5.2 nmol/L) were greater than in the general Canadian population; the opposite was observed for nickel (GM = 8.9 nmol/L). Arsenic concentrations increased significantly with age, whereas the opposite trend was observed for nickel and thallium. In this first biomonitoring study focusing on REEs and carried out in a representative sample of the Nunavik population, we found no evidence of significant exposure from pooled samples analysis. These results could eventually be used as baseline values in future studies aiming to assess temporal trends of exposure to REEs.

Biomonitoring of 45 inorganic elements measured in plasma from Spanish subjects: A cross-sectional study in Andalusian population

Heavy metals and other toxic elements are frequently detected in humans. Rare earth elements (REE) have arisen as a novel group of substances considered as emerging pollutants due to its dependence for high tech industry. We designed a study aimed to conduct the biomonitoring a total of 45 inorganic elements in the population of Andalusia (Spain). A total of 419 participants were recruited and their plasma samples analyzed. Concentration of elements, including elements in the ATSDR's priority pollutant list and REE were measured by ICP-MS in the blood plasma of participants. Arsenic, copper, lead, selenium, antimony, strontium, and bismuth were detected in ˃98% of subjects. Median values of arsenic, mercury and lead were 1.49, 1.46, and 5.86 ng/mL, respectively. These concentrations did not exceed reference values published by international agencies. We observed a positive correlation between age and plasma concentrations of arsenic, mercury, antimony and strontium. Sum of elements was lower in the group of subjects younger than 45 years old (P = 0.002). Positive correlations were observed between body mass index (BMI) and plasma concentrations of barium, cerium, osmium, tin, and ytterbium. 7 out of 26 REEs showed a percentage of detection ≥ 90%. Bismuth, yttrium, and cerium were quantified at the highest concentrations (median value = 7.7, 0.19, and 0.16 ng/mL, respectively). We found that plasma levels of 6 REEs were higher among males, and a positive correlation between REEs and age was detected. The present results suggest a potential interaction with the human physiology that deserves additional research. Given the high persistence of these elements in the environment, and the significant technological dependence on them, future studies are needed to elucidate the potential sources of exposure and possible adverse effects on health, especially in the most vulnerable populations.

Electrical Conductivity and Optical Properties of Pulsed Laser Deposited LaNi₅ Nanoscale Films

This work presents pulsed laser deposition as a method to obtain unoxidized LaNi₅ nanoscale films and describes their temperature and thickness dependent electrical conductivity and the spectral dispersions of some optical properties. AB₅-type rare earth element (REE)-nickel compounds are currently studied from both theoretical and practical points of view. Special challenges are posed during the preparation of these nanomaterials, which can be overcome using finely tuned parameters in a preparation process that always involves the use of high energies. Film deposition was made by laser-induced vaporization, with short and modulated impulses and electro⁻optical tuning of the quality factor, mainly on glass and one SiO₂ substrate. Deposition geometry dependent linear thickness increase, between 1.5⁻2.5 nm per laser burst, was achieved. Film structures and phase compositions were determined using XRD and discussed in comparison with films obtained by similar deposition procedures. Temperature and scale dependent properties were determined by studying electrical conductivity and optical properties. Electrical conductivity was measured using the four-probe method. The observed semiconductor-like conductivity for film thicknesses up to 110 nm can be explained by thermal activation of electrons followed by inter-insular hopping or quantum tunneling, which, on the other hand, modulates the material's native metallic conductance. Films with thicknesses above this value can be considered essentially metallic and bulk-like. The spectral behaviors of the refractive index and absorption coefficient were deduced from differential reflectance spectroscopy data acquired on a broad ultraviolet, visible, near- and mid-infrared (UV-VIS-NIR-MIR) domain, processed using the Kramers-Krönig formalism. Their study led to the identification of the allowed interband transitions. Electronic behavior in the energy bands near the Fermi level and in the surface and interface-states was described, discussing the differences between experimental data and the classical free-electron theoretical model applied for the bulk intermetallic alloy, in correlation with theoretical optical properties or experimental X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results from references. However, the dielectric-like shape of the reflectance of the thinnest film was in accordance with the Lorentz⁻Drude model.

Comparative toxicity of seven rare earth elements in sea urchin early life stages

The widespread use of rare earth elements (REEs) in a number of technological applications raises unanswered questions related to REE-associated adverse effects. We have previously reported on the multiple impact of some REEs on the early life stages of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. The present investigation was to evaluate REE toxicity to early life stages in two unrelated sea urchin species, Sphaerechinus granularis and Arbacia lixula. The comparative toxicities were tested of seven REEs, namely yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, samarium, europium and gadolinium as chloride salts at concentrations ranging from 10^-7 to 10^-4 M. The evaluated endpoints included developmental defects and cytogenetic anomalies in REE-exposed embryos/larvae, and decreased fertilization success and offspring damage following sperm exposure. The results showed different toxicity patterns for individual REEs that varied according to test species and to treatment protocol, thus showing toxicity scaling for the different REEs. Further, the observed effects were compared with those reported for P. lividus either following embryo or sperm exposures. S. granularis showed a significantly higher sensitivity both compared to A. lixula and to P. lividus. This study provides clear-cut evidence for distinct toxicity patterns among a series of REEs. The differences in species sensitivity at micromolar REE levels may warrant investigations on species susceptibility to impacts along polluted coasts.