Urban impact of rare earth elements | Science
The rapid expansion of high-tech industries, particularly in new energy generation and storage, as well as electronic information technology, has significantly amplified the global demand for rare earth elements (REEs). These critical raw materials are essential for the manufacturing of various advanced technologies, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, and smartphones. According to recent statistical data, global production of rare earth minerals—encompassing mining, smelting, and application—has surged from 124,000 metric tons in 2015 to an expected 390,000 metric tons by 2024. This remarkable growth of 214% over the past decade underscores the increasing reliance on REEs in modern technology and highlights the urgency of sustainable practices in their extraction and use.
However, this boom in REE production is not without consequences. The large-scale mining and processing operations have accelerated the biogeochemical cycling of these elements, leading to significant enrichment in various environmental compartments including the atmosphere, water bodies, soil, and living organisms. As these rare elements accumulate in urban environments, concerns regarding their potential health impacts have emerged. Increased exposure to REEs could pose risks to human health and ecosystems, prompting calls for a more thorough investigation into the environmental and biological implications of their mining and usage. The intersection of technological advancement and environmental stewardship is becoming increasingly critical, as stakeholders must balance the benefits of REE utilization with the need for responsible management of their extraction and impact on public health and the environment.
The rapid growth of high-tech sectors, such as new energy generation and storage as well as electronic information, has stoked a global demand for rare earth elements (REEs), the critical raw materials for these sectors and others (1). Statistical data indicate that global rare earth mineral production, including mining, smelting, and application, skyrocketed from 124,000 metric tons in 2015 to 390,000 metric tons in 2024, a staggering 214% increase over the past decade (2). Moreover, large-scale mining, smelting, and industrial use of REEs have accelerated their biogeochemical cycling, leading to substantial enrichment in the atmosphere, water, soil, and organisms. Against this backdrop of expanding REE mining, processing, and consumption, the enrichment of these elements in urban environments and their potential health impacts demand urgent attention.
