Comparison of the rare earth element trophodynamics between freshwater and coastal species from the upper Yellow River to estuary: Insights into health risk

Rare earth elements (REEs) are currently considered as contaminants of emerging concern, but their residual levels and trophic transfer in aquatic species and potential health risks are not fully characterized. This study compared the distribution patterns and trophodynamics of 15 REEs in the wild s...

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Main Authors: Xiang Gu, Maoshan Lian, Chunye Lin, Zhongmin Lian, Xiaoli Zhao, Fengchang Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Environment International
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003769
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author Xiang Gu
Maoshan Lian
Chunye Lin
Zhongmin Lian
Xiaoli Zhao
Fengchang Wu
author_facet Xiang Gu
Maoshan Lian
Chunye Lin
Zhongmin Lian
Xiaoli Zhao
Fengchang Wu
author_sort Xiang Gu
collection DOAJ
description Rare earth elements (REEs) are currently considered as contaminants of emerging concern, but their residual levels and trophic transfer in aquatic species and potential health risks are not fully characterized. This study compared the distribution patterns and trophodynamics of 15 REEs in the wild species of the Yellow River and adjacent Laizhou Bay of northern China. The daily intake of REEs through consuming aquatic products for Chinese residents was also estimated. The squids were characterized by the highest REE concentrations (5779–6102 μg/kg), followed by the sea snails, shrimps and crabs, and both the coastal and freshwater fish. Among different tissues of the Silurus lanzhouensis, gill played an important role in accumulating REEs and detoxication. The Eu and Ce anomalies of the aquatic organisms were consistent with those in sediments of their living habits, showing a common lithogenic origin. According to the bioaccumulation factor, no obvious bioaccumulation of REEs was observed for these aquatic species. Importantly, the relationships between the REEs and stable nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) suggested a significant trophic dilution of REEs in the coastal organisms. The estimated daily intake of REEs from consuming the aquatic organisms were relatively low, indicating the negligible health risk for Chinese adults. These results provide improved insights into the trophodynamics of REEs in the aquatic organisms and potential human health risks of REEs from consuming the aquatic products in China.
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spelling doaj-art-09b6ef4f841a40fc9de2daac66e41bcd2025-08-20T03:32:46ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-08-0120210962510.1016/j.envint.2025.109625Comparison of the rare earth element trophodynamics between freshwater and coastal species from the upper Yellow River to estuary: Insights into health riskXiang Gu0Maoshan Lian1Chunye Lin2Zhongmin Lian3Xiaoli Zhao4Fengchang Wu5National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaSchool of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaSchool of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Corresponding author.College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, ChinaNational-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China; Corresponding author at: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.Rare earth elements (REEs) are currently considered as contaminants of emerging concern, but their residual levels and trophic transfer in aquatic species and potential health risks are not fully characterized. This study compared the distribution patterns and trophodynamics of 15 REEs in the wild species of the Yellow River and adjacent Laizhou Bay of northern China. The daily intake of REEs through consuming aquatic products for Chinese residents was also estimated. The squids were characterized by the highest REE concentrations (5779–6102 μg/kg), followed by the sea snails, shrimps and crabs, and both the coastal and freshwater fish. Among different tissues of the Silurus lanzhouensis, gill played an important role in accumulating REEs and detoxication. The Eu and Ce anomalies of the aquatic organisms were consistent with those in sediments of their living habits, showing a common lithogenic origin. According to the bioaccumulation factor, no obvious bioaccumulation of REEs was observed for these aquatic species. Importantly, the relationships between the REEs and stable nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) suggested a significant trophic dilution of REEs in the coastal organisms. The estimated daily intake of REEs from consuming the aquatic organisms were relatively low, indicating the negligible health risk for Chinese adults. These results provide improved insights into the trophodynamics of REEs in the aquatic organisms and potential human health risks of REEs from consuming the aquatic products in China.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003769Rare earth elementBioaccumulationTrophic dilutionEstimated daily intakeMonte Carlo simulationYellow River
spellingShingle Xiang Gu
Maoshan Lian
Chunye Lin
Zhongmin Lian
Xiaoli Zhao
Fengchang Wu
Comparison of the rare earth element trophodynamics between freshwater and coastal species from the upper Yellow River to estuary: Insights into health risk
Environment International
Rare earth element
Bioaccumulation
Trophic dilution
Estimated daily intake
Monte Carlo simulation
Yellow River
title Comparison of the rare earth element trophodynamics between freshwater and coastal species from the upper Yellow River to estuary: Insights into health risk
title_full Comparison of the rare earth element trophodynamics between freshwater and coastal species from the upper Yellow River to estuary: Insights into health risk
title_fullStr Comparison of the rare earth element trophodynamics between freshwater and coastal species from the upper Yellow River to estuary: Insights into health risk
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of the rare earth element trophodynamics between freshwater and coastal species from the upper Yellow River to estuary: Insights into health risk
title_short Comparison of the rare earth element trophodynamics between freshwater and coastal species from the upper Yellow River to estuary: Insights into health risk
title_sort comparison of the rare earth element trophodynamics between freshwater and coastal species from the upper yellow river to estuary insights into health risk
topic Rare earth element
Bioaccumulation
Trophic dilution
Estimated daily intake
Monte Carlo simulation
Yellow River
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025003769
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