Baseline and fractionation of rare earth elements in hair of urban residents in Nanning, South China.

Authors

Hongcheng Mei, Ziyang Ding, Guilin Han, Rui Qu, Xiaoyu Hu, Di Wang, Zhaowei Jie, Wenqian Sun, Jun Zhu

Published in

Environmental geochemistry and health. Volume 48. Issue 10. Jul 07, 2026. Epub Jul 07, 2026.

Abstract

Rare earth elements (REEs) are increasingly used in energy materials, electronics, and advanced manufacturing, raising concern about their environmental release and potential human exposure. However, baseline biomonitoring data for urban populations without direct mining or smelting influence remain limited. Here, we measured REEs in scalp hair from 30 long-term residents of Nanning, South China (14 males and 16 females, 22-59 years), a representative urban setting distinct from northern REE mining-smelting regions. Concentrations of La-Lu and Y were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. REE patterns were evaluated using upper continental crust (UCC) normalization, the mass fractions of light REEs, middle REEs, and heavy REEs, Ce and Eu anomalies, normalized elemental ratios, and Y-Ho coupling. Total REE concentrations ranged from 0.93 to 75.78 ng/g, with an average of 24.01 ng/g, indicating marked inter-individual variability. Light REEs dominated the REE mass, accounting for 79.77% on average, whereas middle REEs and heavy REEs contributed 14.19% and 6.04%, respectively. UCC-normalized patterns showed consistently negative Ce anomalies and mostly positive Eu anomalies, while several individuals displayed a shift toward heavy-REE enrichment. About half of the Y/Ho ratios were close to crustal values, although deviations occurred in some samples. Compared with published data from mining areas and special populations in China, Nanning residents showed lower overall REE levels but distinct fractionation and anomaly features. These findings provide preliminary urban baseline data and support the cautious use of hair REE signatures in environmental exposure assessment.

PMID:
42412244
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 07 Jul 2026.

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