The rapid growth of high-tech sectors, such as new energy generation and storage as well as electronic information, has stoked a global demand for rare earth elements (REEs), the critical raw materials for these sectors and others (1). Statistical data indicate that global rare earth mineral production, including mining, smelting, and application, skyrocketed from 124,000 metric tons in 2015 to 390,000 metric tons in 2024, a staggering 214% increase over the past decade (2). Moreover, large-scale mining, smelting, and industrial use of REEs have accelerated their biogeochemical cycling, leading to substantial enrichment in the atmosphere, water, soil, and organisms. Against this backdrop of expanding REE mining, processing, and consumption, the enrichment of these elements in urban environments and their potential health impacts demand urgent attention.
