Objective
To investigate the levels of rare earth elements such as lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium in air, drinking water, and soil of a rare earth ore residential area, and provide data support for further evaluation of the impacts of environmental rare earth elements on the health of residents.
Methods
A residential area near a rare earth ore area in Baotou City was chosen as the exposed area, and Guyang County in Baotou as the control area. Representative samples of air, drinking water, and soil were collected in both areas simultaneously to determine the le vels of rare earth elements such as lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
Results
In the exposed area:the median levels of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium in air were 0.075, 0.164, 0.013, and 0.041 μg/m3, respectively; the median levels in drinking water were 0.107, 0.164, 0.023, and 0.076 μg/L, respectively; the median levels in soil were 7.441, 75.413, 2.051, and 6.425mg/kg, respectively. The levels of the four rare earth elements in air, drinking water, and soil samples collected in the exposed area were significantly higher than those in the control area respectively (Ps < 0.01). The levels of the four rare earth elements in the environmental samples of the exposed area from high to low were cerium > lanthanum > neodymium > praseodymium.
Conclusion
Higher levels of rare earth elements such as lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium in air, drinking water, and soil are determined in Baotou rare earth ore residential area than the control area.
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