稀土元素(REE)是由以下17种金属组成的一组:Ce,Dy,呃,Eu,Gd,Ho,La,卢,Nd,Pr,Pm,Sc,Sm,TB,Tm,Y和Yb。在本世纪,REE的应用数量显著增加。它们被用作工业/经济上非常重要的高科技设备中的组件。然而,关于人类暴露于稀土元素的风险的信息,以及这些元素的潜在毒性作用仍然有限。总的来说,饮食摄入是非职业暴露个体接触金属的主要途径,这也应该是预期的。当前的论文旨在回顾在世界范围内进行的研究,这些研究的重点是确定食品中的稀土元素水平,以及这些元素的饮食摄入量。大多数研究都没有表明淡水和海洋物种消费量较高的消费者有潜在的健康风险,或者来自大量蔬菜的摄入,水果,蘑菇,以及其他各种食品(蜂蜜,茶,大米,等。).目前估计的稀土元素每日摄入量(EDI)似乎并不令人担忧。然而,考虑到这些元素在未来几年的广泛使用,显然,建议定期评估膳食暴露于REE的潜在健康风险.这已经在使用众所周知的有毒元素,如As,Cd,Pb和Hg,在其他潜在有毒金属中。
Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group consisting of the following 17 metals: Ce, Dy, Er, Eu, Gd, Ho, La, Lu, Nd, Pr, Pm, Sc, Sm, Tb, Tm, Y and Yb. In the current century, the number of applications of REEs has significantly increased. They are being used as components in high technology devices of great importance industrial/economic. However, information on the risk of human exposure to REEs, as well as the potential toxic effects of these elements is still limited. In general terms, dietary intake is the main route of exposure to metals for non-occupationally exposed individuals, which should be also expected for REEs. The current paper aimed at reviewing the studies -conducted over the world- that focused on determining the levels of REEs in foods, as well as the dietary intake of these elements. Most studies do not suggest potential health risk for consumers of freshwater and marine species of higher consumption, or derived from the intake of a number of vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, as well as other various foodstuffs (honey, tea, rice, etc.). The current estimated daily intake (EDI) of REEs does not seem to be of concern. However, considering the expected wide use of these elements in the next years, it seems to be clearly recommendable to assess periodically the potential health risk of the dietary exposure to REEs. This is already being done with well-known toxic elements such as As, Cd, Pb and Hg, among other potentially toxic metals.