Ge2Raw

The European Union's (EU) commitment to sustainable development and green innovation has emphasized the significance of critical raw materials (CRM), including rare earth elements (REE), in driving ecological and technological advancements. However, the EU's reliance on CRMs remains precarious, particularly in key sectors such as renewable energy and electromobility. The increasing demand for REE in various high-tech applications has raised concerns regarding their environmental impact. Despite their pivotal role in technological advancements, the increasing anthropogenic use of REE has led to their accumulation in aquatic ecosystems, posing potential risks to organisms and ecosystem health. Moreover, climate change exacerbates these challenges by impacting aquatic systems functioning and pollutant mobility, thereby potentially increasing risks to organism health. To address these concerns, the Ge2Raw project aims to comprehensively investigate the geochemistry and ecotoxicology of REE in aquatic environments in the context of climate change (temperature change and water turbidity as proxies).

By integrating geochemistry and ecotoxicology, the project seeks to elucidate the geochemical cycle of REE in polluted rivers and assess their toxicity under realistic environmental conditions. Building on previous research, Ge2Raw will fill critical methodological gaps and provide new insights into the environmental impact of REE on a key freshwater organism, the amphipod Gammarus fossarum. Preliminary findings highlight the significant impact of REEs on G. fossarum. Results showed impaired osmoregulation, altered behaviour, and reduced reproductive success with potential significant effects on ecosystems functioning. However, the geochemical processes influencing REE bioaccumulation in the biota are still not clearly identified. Additionally, their mechanisms of toxicity action still need to be investigated. Therefore, the Ge2Raw project will explore the complex interplay between the geochemical dynamics of REE in river systems and their ecological effects on aquatic organisms, focusing on the Alzette River basin in Luxembourg. By integrating cutting-edge geochemical and ecotoxicological approaches, Ge2Raw seeks to elucidate the pathways of REE contamination, their bioavailability, and the mechanisms underlying their toxicity to G. fossarum by establishing a Multiscale Biological Response Framework, covering biological endpoints from the molecular to the population level.

The outcomes of Ge2Raw will provide valuable insights into the environmental risks posed by REE and inform strategies for mitigating their adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. By bridging the gap between geochemistry and ecotoxicology, the project aims to contribute to sustainable resource management practices and enhance ecological risk assessment frameworks under changing environmental conditions.