Rare earth elements in sediments from a representative Chinese mariculture bay: Characterization, DGT-based bioaccessibility, and probabilistic ecological risk

Yang-Guang Gu; Xu-Nuo Wang; Zeng-Huan Wang; Richard W Jordan; Shi-Jun Jiang

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122338

Rare earth elements in sediments from a representative Chinese mariculture bay: Characterization, DGT-based bioaccessibility, and probabilistic ecological risk

Environ Pollut. 2023 Oct 15:335:122338. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122338. Epub 2023 Aug 7.

Authors

Yang-Guang Gu¹, Xu-Nuo Wang², Zeng-Huan Wang², Richard W Jordan³, Shi-Jun Jiang⁴

Affiliations

¹ South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China; Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, 990-8560, Japan; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, 510300, 510300, China; Key Laboratory of Open-Sea Fishery Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, 510300, China; Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya, 572025, China. Electronic address: hydrobio@163.com.
² South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China.
³ Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, 990-8560, Japan.
⁴ College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing, 245700, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China.

PMID: 37558198
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122338

Abstract

Rare earth elements (REEs) are emerging contaminants due to their worldwide exploitation in the high-technology sector. Aquaculture systems, particularly those located within coastal areas, are fragile ecosystems due to anthropogenic impacts regarding urban and aquaculture activities. However, to date, there are no reports on the combined toxicity of rare earth element (REE) mixtures on aquatic biota in sediments from coastal aquaculture systems. In this study, the combined toxicity of REE mixtures based on probabilistic risk assessment indicated that the surface sediments of Zhelin Bay had a 1.86% probability of toxic effects on aquatic biota. The average value of total REEs (TREEs) was 297.37 μg/g, with light REEs representing the major part. A factor analysis (FA)-geographic information system (GIS)-based approach coupled with correlation analysis (CA) revealed that the REEs are derived from anthropogenic sources through fluvial processes.

Keywords: Aquaculture; Bioaccessibility; Combined toxicity; Ecotoxicological risk; Rare earth elements; Zhelin bay.

MeSH terms

Bays
Ecosystem*
Environmental Monitoring
Geologic Sediments*
Metals, Rare Earth* / analysis

Substances

Metals, Rare Earth