ACCUMULATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESIDUES OF RARE-EARTH ELEMENTS IN SUGARCANE

Increased applications of rare earth elements (REEs) have led to scatt ering and bio-accumulation in the environment. This study shows that t he environmental residue of cerium as a representative for REEs could enter into sugarcane plants via the leaves that were exposed to atmosp heric contaminants and REEs could also enter into sugarcane plants via the roots in substrate soils that were contaminated by REEs or applie d with fertilizers containing REEs. In either case, the absorbed REEs could be distributed to and accumulate in various parts of the plant. REEs in soil could be concentrated and accumulated in sugarcane at a c oncentration ratio above 1.10 times regardless of REE concentration in the substrate soil. While officially permitted residual concentration s of mixed REE nitrates in foodstuff are not available, high REE conce ntrations in the substrate soil on which sugarcane grows could lead to harmful effects for humans consuming sugarcane-related products, (C)1 998 Elsevier Science Ltd.