University of Naples "Federico II", Environmental Hygiene, via Cinthia, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
University of Naples "Federico II", Environmental Hygiene, via Cinthia, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
Environ Res. 2015 Oct;142:215-20. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.06.039. Epub 2015 Jul 10.
A number of applications have been developed using rare earth elements (REE), implying several human exposures and raising unsolved questions as to REE-associated health effects.
A MedLine survey was retrieved from early reports (1980s) up to June 2015, focused on human and animal exposures to REE. Literature from animal models was selected focusing on REE-associated health effects.
Some REE occupational exposures, in jobs such as glass polishers, photoengravers and movie projectionists showed a few case reports on health effects affecting the respiratory system. No case-control or cohort studies of occupational REE exposures were retrieved. Environmental exposures have been biomonitored in populations residing in REE mining areas, showing REE accumulation. The case for a iatrogenic REE exposure was raised by the use of gadolinium-based contrast agents for nuclear magnetic resonance. Animal toxicity studies have shown REE toxicity, affecting a number of endpoints in liver, lungs and blood. On the other hand, the use of REE as feed additives in livestock is referred as a safe and promising device in zootechnical activities, possibly suggesting a hormetic effect both known for REE and for other xenobiotics. Thus, investigations on long-term exposures and observations are warranted.
The state of art provides a limited definition of the health effects in occupationally or environmentally REE-exposed human populations. Research priorities should be addressed to case-control or cohort studies of REE-exposed humans and to life-long animal experiments.
已经开发出了许多使用稀土元素 (REE) 的应用程序，这意味着人类会接触到这些元素，并引发了尚未解决的问题，即 REE 相关的健康影响。
从早期报告（20 世纪 80 年代）到 2015 年 6 月，我们检索了 MedLine 调查，重点关注人类和动物对 REE 的暴露。从动物模型中选择了与 REE 相关的健康影响的文献。
一些 REE 职业暴露，如玻璃抛光工、照相凹版工和电影放映员，有少数关于影响呼吸系统的健康影响的病例报告。没有检索到关于职业 REE 暴露的病例对照或队列研究。在居住在 REE 矿区的人群中进行了环境暴露的生物监测，显示出 REE 的积累。由于使用钆基磁共振造影剂，人为 REE 暴露的情况被提出。动物毒性研究表明 REE 具有毒性，会影响肝脏、肺部和血液中的许多终点。另一方面，将 REE 作为牲畜的饲料添加剂在动物生产活动中被认为是一种安全且有前途的方法，这可能表明 REE 和其他外来化学物质都具有适应原效应。因此，有必要对长期暴露和观察进行调查。
目前的研究状况对职业或环境中 REE 暴露的人类人群的健康影响定义有限。研究重点应放在 REE 暴露的人类病例对照或队列研究以及终生动物实验上。
