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Rare Earths as Emerging Trace Element Contaminants in the Soil

  • REVIEW
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review examines recent publications on rare earth elements (REE) in soils, critically evaluating their role as emerging soil contaminants. We emphasized new findings and main gaps using a previous review paper published in 2016 by our research group as a reference point. Three major subjects were prioritized: (1) sources, background levels, and behavior of REE in soils; (2) plant development and metabolism as affected by REE exposure; and (3) environmental and human health risk assessments of REE in the soil environment.

Recent Findings

Publications addressing the occurrence and fate of REE in the soil environment have more than tripled in the last decade. Coincidentally, global REE exploration has more than doubled in the past 7 years. Because of their unique features, the global demand for REE is expected to increase by at least 50% in the next 10 years. As soils are the main sink of contaminants, we must continue to investigate the consequences of the unceasing addition of these elements in soil ecosystems.

Summary

We highlighted the main sources of REE, their background levels in selected global soils, and their physicochemical behavior. The relationship between REE and plants revealed potential benefits such as environmental stress tolerance. Finally, ecological and human health risk assessment data for REE in soils were carefully discussed in terms of their potential adverse effects on biota. We conclude with a survey in which prominent authors working with REE answered questions about challenges and opportunities for innovative research on REE in soil-plant-animal/human systems.

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Data Availability

Data generated during the survey will be made available on request.

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for supporting their research with rare earth elements over the last 10 years. Special thanks go to the National Institute of Science and Technology on Soil and Food Security (CNPq grant #406577/2022-6) and to all authors who kindly replied with their enlightening feedback to our survey. The authors would like to thank Instituto Tecnológico Vale and Vale for the scolarships provided.

Funding

National Institute of Science and Technology on Soil and Food Security (CNPq grant #406577/2022-6), FAPEMIG grant APQ-00826-19 and CNPq grant 304560/2023-5.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Tecnológico Vale, 66055-090, Belém, Pará, Brazil

    Paula Godinho Ribeiro, Gabriel Caixeta Martins, Wendel Valter da Silveira Pereira & Silvio Junio Ramos

  2. Department of Soil Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Lavras, 37203-202, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Cynthia de Oliveira, Teotônio Soares de Carvalho & Luiz Roberto Guimarães Guilherme

  3. Department of Chemistry, Institute of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Lavras, 37203-202, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Marcelo Braga Bueno Guerra

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  1. Paula Godinho Ribeiro
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Contributions

All authors collaborated on writing and reviewing the manuscript as well as on preparing questions and searching collaborators for our survey. P.G.R. and C.O. wrote mainly the text about REE in plants. M.B.B.G and T.S.C. wrote mainly the text about REE in soils, including sources. G.C.M., W.V.S.P., and S.J.R. wrote mainly the text about ERA and HHRA of REE. L.R.G.G. wrote mainly the introduction and the survey summary, carried out final editing, and provided funding.

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Correspondence to Luiz Roberto Guimarães Guilherme.

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Ribeiro, P.G., de Oliveira, C., Guerra, M.B.B. et al. Rare Earths as Emerging Trace Element Contaminants in the Soil. Curr Pollution Rep (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-024-00312-y

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