Accumulation, Uptake and Bioavailability of Rare Earth Elements (Rees) in Soil Grown Plants From Ex-Mining Area in Perak, Malaysia

Rare earth elements (REEs) from ex-mining area in Lahat, Perak, Malaysia were investigated in different plant species belonging to Cyperaceae, Gleicheniaceae and Melastomataceae families and soil using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).The plant samples were divided into root, stem, leaves and flowers to determine the variations in the distribution of REEs, their uptake capacity, and bioavailability.The aims of the work were to evaluate REEs uptake levels and bioavailability in plants.The work observed highest amount of cerium (Ce) 425.5 mg kg -1 in the soil samples.Light rare earth elements (LREEs) were found in greater concentration in plants and soil samples than heavy rare earth elements (HREEs).Our findings suggest Dicranopteris dichotoma, Dicranopteris linearis (Burn) (B) and Cyperus rotundus L. as hyper accumulative for REEs.This study accounts all the REEs indicating LREEs (Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, and Gd) in abundance with their uptake capacity, accumulation and transfer to other plant parts.Transfer factor (TF), bioconcentration factor (BCF) and bioaccumulation factors (BAF) were also calculated to estimate the toxicity of REEs in the ex-mining area.BCF and BAF values found highest for yttrium and ytterbium.