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Rare earth elements in surface specific urban runoff in Northern Beijing
Md Tariqul Islam Shajib1, Hans Christian Bruun Hansen2, Tao Liang3
1Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Sino Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC), China.
The Science of the Total Environment
|February 17, 2020
Summary
Rare earth elements (REEs) are accumulating in urban runoff, primarily in particulate matter. Concentrations in Beijing
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
- Urban Hydrology
Background:
- Rare earth elements (REEs) are increasingly released into the environment due to mining and widespread use in modern technologies and activities.
- Limited data exists on REE concentrations in urban environments, particularly in urban runoff.
- Understanding REE behavior in urban runoff is crucial for assessing potential environmental impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the concentration and distribution of rare earth elements (REEs) in urban stormwater runoff.
- To identify the primary sources and transport pathways of REEs in urban runoff.
- To establish an 'urban fingerprint' for REEs based on their distribution patterns.
Main Methods:
- Collection of 150 urban runoff samples from trafficked areas, rooftops, and parking lots in Beijing, China.
- Separation of runoff samples into dissolved and particulate phases.
- Analysis of REE concentrations using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Main Results:
- REEs were predominantly found in the particulate phase (>80%) of urban runoff.
- Total REE concentrations in runoff (0.16–185 μg/l) were significantly higher than in sewage channels and rivers.
- Light REEs dominated the distribution, with elevated Cerium (Ce) levels suggesting traffic emission influence.
Conclusions:
- Urban runoff is a significant pathway for REE dispersal into aquatic environments.
- Traffic emissions and coal burning are identified as major sources of REEs in urban runoff, creating a distinct urban fingerprint.
- Further research is needed to understand the ecological implications of elevated REE levels in urban aquatic systems.
