Urban impact of rare earth elements.
Published In: Science, 2025, v. 390, n. 6774. P. 684 1 of 3
Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3
Authored By: Ma, Jin; Wu, Fengchang 3 of 3
Abstract
The article focuses on the increasing global demand for rare earth elements (REEs) due to the growth of high-tech sectors, particularly in new energy and electronic information. It highlights a significant rise in global REE production, which surged from 124,000 metric tons in 2015 to 390,000 metric tons in 2024, leading to environmental concerns regarding their accumulation in urban areas. Studies indicate that cities like Beijing and London have experienced abnormal increases in REE concentrations in soil and air, raising potential health risks for urban populations, including reproductive toxicity and increased risks of chronic conditions. The article calls for more environmentally friendly mining technologies and improved monitoring of REE exposure to mitigate health and environmental impacts. [Extracted from the article]
Additional Information
- Source:Science. 2025/11, Vol. 390, Issue 6774, p684
- Document Type:Letter
- Subject Area:Mining and Mineral Resources
- Publication Date:2025
- ISSN:0036-8075
- DOI:10.1126/science.aeb7692
- Accession Number:189291598
- Copyright Statement:Copyright of Science is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.