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Distribution of rare earth elements in soils of contrasting geological and pedological settings to support human health assessment and environmental policies

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Abstract

Establishing quality reference values (QRVs) for rare earth elements (REEs) in soils is essential for the screening of these emergent contaminants. Currently, Brazil has the second-largest reserve of REEs, but data regarding background concentrations and distributions in soils remain scarce. The aim of this study was to establish the QRVs and assess the spatial distribution of REEs in soils, including REE fractionations and anomalies in (Piauí) state (251,529.186 km2), northeastern Brazil. This study reports the most detailed data on REE geochemistry in Brazilian soils. A total of 243 composite soil samples was collected at 0–20 cm depth. The mean background concentrations in soils followed the abundance of the earth’s upper crust: Ce > La > Nd > Pr > Sm > Dy > Gd > Er > Yb > Eu > Tb > Lu. The ∑REEs (mg kg−1) showed the following order based on the individual mesoregions of Piauí state: Southeast (262.75) > North and Central-North (89.68) > Southwest (40.33). The highest QRVs were observed in the Southeast mesoregion. The establishment of QRVs based on the mesoregion scale improves data representativeness and the monitoring of natural REE values by identifying hot spots. Geostatistical modeling indicated significant local variability, especially in the Southeast mesoregion. The levels of these elements in this spatial zone are naturally higher than the other values across Piauí state and the mesoregion itself and indicate a high potential to exceed the QRVs. Our approach provides much needed data to help strengthen policies for both human health and environmental protection.

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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) that provided a scholarship to the first author. The contribution by ALC was funded by grant award BBS/E/C/000I0330 from the UKRI-BBSRC (UK Research and Innovation-Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council). C.W.A. Nascimento and Y.J.A.B. Silva are grateful to the Brazilian National Research and Development Council—CNPq for research productivity scholarships ((Process Numbers: 305782/2018-5, and 303221/2019-4).

Funding

This study was financed by the Brazilian National Research and Development Council—CNPq (Process Number: 404394/2016–7).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agronomy Department, Federal University of Piauí (UFPI), Planalto Horizonte, Bom Jesus, PI, 64900-000, Brazil

    Jacqueline Sousa Paes Landim, Yuri Jacques Agra Bezerra da Silva, Cácio Luiz Boechat, Ronny Sobreira Barbosa & Tatiana dos Santos Silva

  2. Agronomy Department, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), Dom Manuel de Medeiros Street, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE, 52171-900, Brazil

    Clístenes Williams Araújo do Nascimento, Ygor Jacques Agra Bezerra da Silva, Rennan Cabral Nascimento, Cinthia Maria Cordeiro Atanázio Cruz Silva & Caroline Miranda Biondi

  3. Statistics Department, State University of Paraíba (UEPB), Baraúnas St. 351, Campina Grande, PB, 58429-500, Brazil

    Ricardo Alves de Olinda

  4. Sustainable Agriculture Sciences, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, EX20 2SB, UK

    Adrian L. Collins

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  1. Jacqueline Sousa Paes Landim
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Contributions

The individual contributions of authors can be seen below: YJABS1 contributed to conceptualization, design of methodology, writing and editing; JSPL contributed to data acquisition, writing and editing; CWAN contributed to writing and editing; YJABS2 contributed to design of methodology, writing and editing; RCN contributed to data analysis, writing and editing; CLB contributed to design of methodology, writing and editing; CMCACS contributed to data analysis, writing and editing; RAO contributed to data analysis, writing and editing; RSB contributed to writing and editing; TSS contributed to writing and editing; CMB contributed to writing and editing; ALC contributed to writing and editing.

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Correspondence to Yuri Jacques Agra Bezerra da Silva.

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Landim, J.S.P., da Silva, Y.J.A.B., do Nascimento, C.W.A. et al. Distribution of rare earth elements in soils of contrasting geological and pedological settings to support human health assessment and environmental policies. Environ Geochem Health 44, 861–872 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-021-00993-0

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