Rare earth elements and yttrium (REY) are critical elements for a wide range of applications and consumer products. Their growing extraction and use can potentially lead to REY and anthropogenic-REY chemical complexes (ACC-REY) being released in the marine environment, causing concern regarding their potential effects on organisms and ecosystems. Here, we critically review the scientific knowledge on REY sources (geogenic and anthropogenic), factors affecting REY distribution and transfer in the marine environment, as well as accumulation in- and effects on marine biota. Further, we aim to draw the attention to research gaps that warrant further scientific attention to assess the potential risk posed by anthropogenic REY release. Geochemical processes affecting REY mobilisation from natural sources and factors affecting their distribution and transfer across marine compartments are well established, featuring a high variability dependent on local conditions. There is, however, a research gap with respect to evaluating the environmental distribution and fate of REY from anthropogenic sources, particularly regarding ACC-REY, which can have a high persistence in seawater. In addition, data on organismal uptake, accumulation, organ distribution and effects are scarce and at best fragmentary. Particularly, the effects of ACC-REY at organismal and community levels are, so far, not sufficiently studied.

To assess the potential risks caused by anthropogenic REY release there is an urgent need to i) harmonise data reporting to promote comparability across studies and environmental matrices, ii) conduct research on transport, fate and behaviour of ACC-REY vs geogenic REY iii) deepen the knowledge on bioavailability, accumulation and effects of ACC-REY and REY mixtures at organismal and community level, which is essential for risk assessment of anthropogenic REY in marine ecosystems.

稀土元素和钇 (REY) 是广泛应用和消费产品的关键元素。它们的不断提取和使用可能导致 REY 和人为-REY 化学复合物 (ACC-REY) 释放到海洋环境中，引起人们对其对生物和生态系统潜在影响的担忧。在这里，我们批判性地回顾了关于 REY 来源（地质和人为）、影响 REY 在海洋环境中分布和转移的因素以及海洋生物群的积累和影响的科学知识。此外，我们旨在引起人们对研究空白的关注，这些空白需要进一步的科学关注，以评估人为 REY 释放带来的潜在风险。影响 REY 从天然来源动员的地球化学过程以及影响它们在海洋隔间中分布和转移的因素已经很好地建立起来，具有依赖于当地条件的高度可变性。然而，在评估来自人为来源的 REY 的环境分布和归宿方面存在研究空白，特别是在 ACC-REY 方面，它可以在海水中具有很高的持久性。此外，关于生物体吸收、积累、器官分布和影响的数据很少，充其量只是零碎的。特别是，迄今为止，ACC-REY 在生物体和群落水平上的影响尚未得到充分研究。在评估来自人为来源的 REY 的环境分布和归宿方面存在研究空白，特别是在 ACC-REY 方面，它可以在海水中具有很高的持久性。此外，关于生物体吸收、积累、器官分布和影响的数据很少，充其量只是零碎的。特别是，迄今为止，ACC-REY 在生物体和群落水平上的影响尚未得到充分研究。在评估来自人为来源的 REY 的环境分布和归宿方面存在研究空白，特别是在 ACC-REY 方面，它可以在海水中具有很高的持久性。此外，关于生物体吸收、积累、器官分布和影响的数据很少，充其量只是零碎的。特别是，迄今为止，ACC-REY 在生物体和群落水平上的影响尚未得到充分研究。

为了评估人为 REY 释放造成的潜在风险，迫切需要 i) 协调数据报告以促进研究和环境矩阵之间的可比性，ii) 对 ACC-REY与地质 REY 的运输、归宿和行为进行研究iii) 深化ACC-REY 和 REY 混合物在生物体和群落层面的生物利用度、积累和影响的知识，这对于海洋生态系统中人为 REY 的风险评估至关重要。