Cleaner waters ahead: Evaluating safe limits of rare earth elements (REEs) in Australian and global policies amid environmental interactions

Abstract

Cleaner water is vital for ecosystems and human survival. In our current industrialized era, prioritizing the welfare of all living organisms is paramount. Healthy communities and individuals across aquatic ecosystems are essential for achieving this goal. However, emerging pollutants of aquatic systems, such as Rare Earth Elements (REEs), present significant challenges. REEs, increasingly utilized in modern technologies, lack sufficient regulation regarding their toxicological impacts, particularly when combined with other contaminants in the environment. Current ecotoxicity assessments primarily focus on the whole activity responses of a considered toxicological biomarker enzyme, ignoring the insights that individual enzyme isoforms provide into cellular stress responses. This short communication proposes strategic actions focused on Australia and the global system to establish inclusive safety limits for REEs. These actions include synthesizing existing data, conducting controlled and mesocosm experiments involving biomarker profiling, and investigating potential synergies with emerging contaminants. Addressing how REE exposure influences specific biomarker isoenzymes is imperative before implementing biomonitoring strategies for attaining cleaner water. Through the forward-thinking exercise, Australia plan to set international environmental benchmarks aimed at preserving ecosystems from the potential hazards linked to REE contamination, given its role as one of the nations involved in REE extraction.