Rare-earth element distribution characteristics of biological chains in rare-earth element-high background regions and their implications

The rare-earth element (REE) contents of water and vegetables from two typi cal REE-high background regions and a normal region in Gannan, Jiangxi Prov ince, indicated that the REE contents were significantly different from tho se of water and vegetables, respectively. The average values are 0.03 mg/L and 0.11 mg/L REE for water from regions A and B. As the REE contents of ve getables from region A are different from region B, it is suggested that th ere are a number of factors controlling the REE distribution from those amo ng plants. By comparing with the normal region, the soluble REE contents of water from the REE-high background regions are higher than those of the no rmal region by factors of 18 and 68, respectively. The REE contents of most plants and crops from regions A and B are higher than those of the normal region. It is clear that the REEs are the indispensable elements of plants during their growing period. Why are the REE contents of some plants from r egions A and B usually higher than those from the normal region? The answer is that the plants and crops have passively absorbed REE during their grow th.