Research progress on the content and distribution of rare earth elements in rivers and lakes in China

Mory Traore; Yafei He; Yiwen Wang; Aijun Gong; Lina Qiu; Yuzhen Bai; Yang Liu; Min Zhang; Yifan Chen; Xinyu Huang

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114916

Research progress on the content and distribution of rare earth elements in rivers and lakes in China

Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Jun:191:114916. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114916. Epub 2023 Apr 13.

Authors

Mory Traore¹, Yafei He², Yiwen Wang¹, Aijun Gong³, Lina Qiu¹, Yuzhen Bai¹, Yang Liu¹, Min Zhang⁴, Yifan Chen¹, Xinyu Huang¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
² Tianjin College, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Tianjin 301830, China.
³ School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address: gongaijun5661@ustb.edu.cn.
⁴ Baotou Water Quality Detection Technology Co., Ltd, Baotou 014000, China.

PMID: 37058831
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114916

Abstract

This study reviewed the content and distribution of rare earth elements (REE) in rivers and lakes in China based on the online literature. The sequence distribution of REE presented the decreasing trends in the order: of Ce > La > Nd > Pr > Sm > Gb > Dy>Er > Yb > Eu > Lu > Ho > Tb > Tm in rivers water. Pearl River and the Jiulong River constitute a significant sediments REE reservoir with an average value mean of 229.6 mg/kg and 266.86 mg/kg, respectively; both have higher concentrations than the global river average (174.8 mg/kg) and higher than the local soil background (Chinese soil background). The Liaohe River is one of China's most polluted rivers, with REE distribution ranging from 106.61 to 174.71 g/L (average 144.59 g/L in water). The total concentrations of dissolved REE in rivers near REE mining areas in China are higher than in other rivers. Increasing anthropogenic inputs to natural systems may permanently alter the natural signatures of REE. The distribution characteristics of REE in Chinese lakes (sediments) varied greatly, and the mean enrichment factor (EF) was sorted as follows: Ce > La > Nd > Pr > Sm > Gd > Dy>Er > Yb > Eu > Ho > Tb > Tm > Lu, where Ce was the most abundant followed by La, Nd, and Pr, and these four elements account for 85.39 % of the total concentration of REE. The REE in the sediments obtained from Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake had an average concentration respectively of 254.0 μg/g and 197.95 μg/g; both are considerably higher than the average upper continental crust (146.4 μg/g) and higher than in other lakes in China and around the world. The distribution and accumulation of LREE in most lake sediments result from the joint action of human activities and natural processes. It concluded that mining tailings were the primary cause of REE pollution in sediments, and industrial and agricultural activities are mainly responsible for water contamination.

Keywords: China; Distribution; Lakes; Rare earth elements (REE); Rivers.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

China
Environmental Monitoring
Humans
Lakes*
Metals, Rare Earth* / analysis
Rivers
Soil
Water

Substances

Metals, Rare Earth
Soil
Water