Cerium, gadolinium, lanthanum, and neodymium effects in simplified acid mine discharges to Raphidocelis subcapitata, Lepidium sativum, and Vicia faba

Assessing the toxicity of gadolinium in freshwater and marine ecosystems: Effects across trophic levels

Rare Earth Elements, particularly gadolinium (Gd), are increasingly used in industrial and medical applications, leading to their dispersion in aquatic environments. This study examines the ecotoxicological effects of Gd on aquatic organisms across different trophic levels in freshwater and marine ecosystems. Using standardized bioassays, the impact of Gd was assessed on Aliivibrio fischeri, Raphidocelis subcapitata, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Daphnia magna, and Paracentrotus lividus larvae. Results showed that primary producers exhibited the highest sensitivity, with growth inhibition at low concentrations. In contrast, primary consumers (D. magna and P. lividus) were less affected by Gd, displaying a higher tolerance to its toxic effects even at elevated concentrations. Principal component analysis highlighted distinct responses between freshwater and marine organisms, suggesting a complex relationship between Gd bioavailability and toxicity. Hence, Gd contamination poses ecological risks requiring further research on its environmental impact.

Ecotoxicological and metabolomic investigation of chronic exposure of Daphnia magna (Straus, 1820) to yttrium environmental concentrations

In order to estimate the effects on aquatic organisms of long-term exposure to low doses of yttrium (Y) as a potential emerging contaminant, ecotoxicological and metabolomic data were collected on the model organism Daphnia magna, a keystone species in freshwater ecosystems. Following an initial acute toxicity assessment, a 21-day chronic exposure experiment was conducted using a sublethal concentration of 27 μg L⁻¹ of Y, corresponding to the effective concentrations inducing 10 % effect (EC10) value for mortality endpoint and simulating the environmental Y level in aquatic systems. Results from the 21-day two-factor experiment combining microcrustacean survival, growth and reproduction bioassays and targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomics indicated significant adverse effects of chronic exposure to Y on D. magna. Daphnids exposed to Y exhibited a significantly lower survival at day 21, delayed the maturity stage, including their first breeding, and decreased clutch size. On the side of metabolomics, a clear and general increase over time of both the number and the level of detected metabolites in the hydroalcoholic extracts of the whole organisms was observed. However, emerging from this broad temporal pattern, several bioactive metabolites were identified (e.g., 2,4-di‑tert‑butylphenol, itaconic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, and trehalose) whose levels in extracts are linked to the presence of Y. These results emphasize the necessity of considering low-dose, long-term exposure scenarios in environmental risk assessments of rare earth elements (REEs), which have often been overlooked in favour of higher concentration studies.

Levels of rare earth elements on three abandoned mining sites of bauxite in southern Italy: A comparison between TXRF and ICP-MS

The essential utilization of rare earth elements (REEs) for the production of several electronic devices is making the demand for them being increased all the time. This extensive use of these elements has also increased concern about human and environmental health. Previous studies have shown that REE levels are higher in environmental samples near mining sites, and they are highly possible to be transferred to biota. In this study, REE levels were determined in environmental samples collected from three abandoned mining sites of bauxite (Gargano, Otranto, and Spinazzola) in the region of Puglia, Southern Italy. The samples were digested and analyzed by two different techniques, Total X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) to investigate which technique is the most suitable for analysis of the REE content in samples from abandoned mining sites of bauxite. Only 6 REEs could be detected by TXRF, while all REEs were detected in all the samples by ICP-MS. Spinazzola is the richest site and Ce the most abundant REE in all three regions. REE levels are correlated between the soil and biota samples in many cases, although the calculation of the bioconcentration factor showed that REEs are not bioaccumulative. ICP-MS seems to be a more suitable technique for analysis of the whole REE content in environmental samples from abandoned mining sites of bauxite.

Biomining using microalgae to recover rare earth elements (REEs) from bauxite

Biomining using microalgae has emerged as a sustainable option to extract rare earth elements (REEs). This study aims to (i) explore the capability of REEs recovery from bauxite by microalgae, (ii) assess the change of biochemical function affected by bauxite, and (iii) investigate the effects of operating conditions (i.e., aeration rate, pH, hydraulic retention time) to REEs recovery. The results showed that increasing bauxite in microalgae culture increases REEs recovery in biomass and production of biochemical compounds (e.g., pigments and Ca-Mg ATPase enzyme) up to 10 %. The optimum pulp ratio of bauxite in the microalgae culture ranges from 0.2 % to 0.6 %. Chlorella vulgaris was the most promising, with two times higher in REEs recovery in biomass than the other species. REEs accumulated in microalgae biomass decreased with increasing pH in the culture. This study establishes a platform to make the scaling up of REEs biomining by microalgae plausible.

Metal(loid)s and Rare Earth Elements in Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile (1813) banquettes

The Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile 1813 banquette provides precious ecosystem services for Mediterranean beach nourishment and protection, representing an important way of energy transfer through marine-coastal habitats. It is surprising to note how it is poorly investigated, especially concerning its double role as potential sink and source of chemicals. In particular, few studies exist about the metal (loid)s occurrence and no data are available on emerging contaminants, such as Rare Earth Elements (REEs). The present research investigated for the first time the concentrations of twenty-eight metal(loid)s and fifteen REEs in a well-structured banquette along the Italian coast (Central Tyrrhenian Sea) showing that (i) metal(loid)s and REEs occur in banquettes, with higher relative concentrations of some metal(loid)s (B, Sr, Mn, Fe, Al, Zn) and REEs (Ce, Y, La, Nd) with no statistically significant seasonal variations; (ii) Posidonia banquettes may represent an interesting biological model for chemicals monitoring.

New insights into rare earth element-induced microalgae lipid accumulation: Implication for biodiesel production and adsorption mechanism

A coupling technology for lipid production and adsorption of rare earth elements (REEs) using microalgae was studied in this work. The microalgae cell growth, lipid production, biochemical parameters and lipid profiles were investigated under different REEs (Ce3+, Gd3+and La3+). The results showed that the maximum lipid production was achieved at different concentrations of REEs, with lipid productivities of 300.44, 386.84 and 292.19 mg L-1 d-1 under treatment conditions of 100 μg L-1 Ce3+, 250 μg L-1 Gd3+ and 1 mg L-1 La3+, respectively. Moreover, the adsorption efficiency of Ce3+, Gd3+ and La3+exceeded 96.58 %, 93.06 % and 91.3 % at concentrations of 25-1000 μg L-1, 100-500 μg L-1 and 0.25-1 mg L-1, respectively. In addition, algal cells were able to adsorb 66.2 % of 100 μg L-1 Ce3+, 48.4 % of 250 μg L-1 Gd3+ and 59.9 % of 1 mg L-1 La3+. The combination of extracellular polysaccharide and algal cell wall could adsorb 25.2 % of 100 μg L-1 Ce3+, 44.5 % of 250 μg L-1 Gd3+ and 30.5 % of 1 mg L-1 La3+, respectively. These findings indicated that microalgae predominantly adsorbed REEs through the intracellular pathway. This study elucidates the mechanism of effective lipid accumulation and adsorption of REEs by microalgae under REEs stress conditions. It establishes a theoretical foundation for the efficient microalgae lipid production and REEs recovery from wastewater or waste residues containing REEs.

Multigenerational tests on Daphnia spp.: a vision and new perspectives

Multigenerational toxicity testing is a valuable tool for understanding the long-term effects of contaminants on aquatic organisms. This review focuses on the use of multigenerational tests with Daphnia, a widely used model organism in aquatic toxicological studies. The review highlights the importance of studying multiple generations to assess Daphnia spp. reproductive, growth, and physiological responses to various contaminants. We discuss the outcomes of multigenerational tests involving different contaminants, including nanoparticles, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. The results reveal that multigenerational exposure can lead to transgenerational effects, where the impacts of contaminants are observed in subsequent generations even after the initial exposure has ceased. These transgenerational effects often manifest as reproduction, growth, and development alterations. Furthermore, we emphasize the need for standardized protocols in multigenerational testing to ensure comparability and reproducibility of results across studies. We also discuss the implications of multigenerational testing for ecological risk assessment, as it provides a more realistic representation of the long-term effects of contaminants on populations and ecosystems. Overall, this review highlights the significance of multigenerational tests with Daphnia in advancing our understanding of the ecological impacts of contaminants. Such tests provide valuable insights into the potential risks associated with long-term exposure to pollutants and contribute to the development of effective mitigation strategies for aquatic ecosystems.

Untangling microbial diversity and assembly patterns in rare earth element mine drainage in South China

Ion-adsorption rare earth element (REE) deposits are the main reservoirs of REEs worldwide, and are widely exploited in South China. Microbial diversity is essential for maintaining the performance and function of mining ecosystems. Investigating the ecological patterns underlying the REE mine microbiome is essential to understand ecosystem responses to environmental changes and to improve the bioremediation of mining areas. We applied 16S rRNA and ITS gene sequence analyses to investigate the composition characteristics of prokaryotic (bacteria, archaea) and fungal communities in a river impacted by REE acid mine drainage (REE-AMD). The river formed a unique micro-ecosystem, including the main prokaryotic taxa of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Crenarchaeota, and Euryarchaeota, as well as the main fungal taxa of Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Chytridiomycota. Analysis of microbial diversity showed that, unlike prokaryotic communities that responded drastically to pollution disturbances, fungal communities were less affected by REE-AMD, but fluctuated significantly in different seasons. Ecological network analysis revealed that fungal communities have lower connectivity and centrality, and higher modularity than prokaryotic networks, indicating that fungal communities have more stable network structures. The introduction of REE-AMD mainly reduced the complexity of the community network and the number of keystone species, while the proportion of negative prokaryotic-fungal associations in the network increased. Ecological process analysis revealed that, compared to the importance of environmental selection for prokaryotes, stochastic processes might have contributed primarily to fungal communities in REE mining areas. These findings confirm that the different assembly mechanisms of prokaryotic and fungal communities are key to the differences in their responses to environmental perturbations. The findings also provide the first insights into microbiota assembly patterns in REE-AMD and important ecological knowledge for the formation and development of microbial communities in REE mining areas.

Long-term multi-endpoint exposure of the microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata to lanthanum and cerium

Significant release of rare earth elements (REEs) into the environment is mainly due to active or abandoned mining sites, but their presence is globally increasing due to their use in several industrial sectors. The effects on primary producers as Raphidocelis subcapitata are still limited. This research focused on La and Ce as the two most widespread REEs that can be currently found up to hundreds of μg/L in water and wastewater. Microalgae were exposed to La and Ce for 3 days (pH = 7.8) (short-term exposure) to derive the effective concentrations inhibiting the growth on 10% (EC10) of the exposed population. EC10 values (0.5 mg/L of La and 0.4 mg/L of Ce) were used for the 28 days long-term exposure (renewal test) to observe after 7, 14, 21, and 28 days on a multi-endpoint basis microalgae growth inhibition (GI), biomarkers of stress (reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT)), and bioconcentration. Results evidenced that La and Ce EC10 increased GI (day 28) up to 38% and 28%, respectively. ROS, CAT, and SOD activities showed differential responses from day 7 to day 14, 21, and 28, suggesting, in most of the cases, that La and Ce effects were counteracted (i.e., being the values at day 28 not significantly different, p > 0.05, from the relative negative controls), except for La-related ROS activities. La and Ce significantly bioconcentrated in microalgae populations up to 2- and 5-fold (i.e., at day 28 compared to day 7), in that order. Bioconcentrated La and Ce were up to 3157 and 1232 μg/g dry weight (day 28), respectively. These results suggested that low La and Ce concentrations can be slightly toxic to R. subcapitata having the potential to be bioaccumulated and potentially transferred along the food web.