Rare earth elements are essential for green technologies but are they damaging human and environmental health?

The PhD studentship with be held at the University of Birmingham in partnership with the British Geological Survey

Overview:
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are listed as ‘critical materials’ by the European Union. REEs are essential for modern electronics and for meeting global commitments to using greener technologies, such as renewable energy (i.e. wind and solar power) and energy efficient vehicles.
World production of REEs has nearly doubled in the last decade and consumption is forecast to reach 210,000 tonnes by 2015. Currently more than 95% of global REE supply comes from China which is causing major geopolitical issues (e.g. soaring REE prices and imposed strict export quotas).

The demand for some REE will eventually outstrip supply, leading to economic concerns about the security of supply and an urgent requirement to find alternative sources. The UK has no REE mining operations and few resources, though recent exploration has shown that sites, such as the Caledonian alkaline igneous intrusions of north-west Scotland could be economically viable.

REE mining/processing in the UK should be approached with caution as poor practices in China have led to significant environmental problems and the toxicological effects of REEs and their mechanism of action are still poorly understood.

Hypothesis:
REE mining/processing activities will increase REE contaminant transport in soils/sediments and impact environmental and human health.

Objectives:
1. Determine the influence of bio-geochemical conditions on REE speciation and transport in the environment.
2. Using laboratory studies estimate the impact of REE mining/processing on environmental and human health.

Methodology:
UK REEs sites (e.g. Loch Loyal syenite complex, Scotland; Northern Arran granite Scotland; Permian Beara-Allahies carbonatite in western Ireland) will be selected and minerals and underlying soils collected. Minerals will be processed to simulate mine tailings for laboratory experimentation.
Column experiments (Figure 1b) will be used to investigate the transport of REEs and the influence of biogeochemical conditions (determined by redox indicators) on metal mobility will be determined from breakthrough curves (dissolved and colloidal) and sequential extraction techniques (Chemometric Identification of Substrates and Element Distributions – CISED). DNA profiling and/or metabolic activities (Biolog plates) will be used to determine changes in soil microbial community/health from REE contamination.
Ecotoxicological screening of REE leachates will be assessed using miniaturized bioassays (Phytotoxkit, Ostracodtoxkit, Algaltoxkit, Daphtoxkit from MicroBio Tests Inc, Belgium). The BGS human exposure to REE contaminated water (oral ingestion bioaccessibility) will be determined and the impact to human health assessed.

Training and skills:
The Doctoral Researcher will receive key training from the University of Birmingham and the BGS Geochemical Baselines & Medical Geology Group in project planning and undertaking field work (soil, water and sediment sampling), laboratory hydrogeology experimentation, training in CISED, bioaccessibility and ecotoxicological screening, data gathering, associated spatial geostatistical analysis and visualisation and date interpretation. The Doctoral Researcher will present their work at international conferences and publish their finding. The Doctoral Researcher will also have the opportunity to attend selected modules from MSc courses (such as, Hydrogeology and Environmental Health) taught within the School.
CENTA students will attend 45 days training throughout their PhD including a 10 day placement. In the first year, students will be trained as a single cohort on environmental science, research methods and core skills. Throughout the PhD, training will progress from core skills sets to master classes specific to the student’s projects and themes.

Partners and collaboration:
The Supervisory team: Dr Stephanie Handley-Sidhu is a bio-geochemist who has worked extensively on the toxic metal speciation and transport in the environment. Prof. John Tellam is a hydrogeologist, with research interests in inorganic, surface-interacting, solute and particle transport in groundwaters. Dr Joanna Wragg a senior research BGS officer in geosciences who has extensive research experience on the fate of contaminants in the environment and their impact on human and environmental health. Dr Rich Boden is a microbial physiologist and biogeochemist who has worked extensively on inorganic redox reactions catalysed by microbes (sulfur, arsenic, selenium, mercury, lanthanides and actinides).