article · Challenges
Global demand for rare earth metals is expanding rapidly due to their widespread use in electronics, medicine, renewable energy, agriculture, and defence. Because these metals will remain central to the global economy, rising production is projected to enlarge contaminated areas, posing severe risks to the environment as well as human and animal health. Although international interest in rare earth metals outside China has grown, research examining deposits, extraction, and related health consequences across Africa remains scarce. While sustainable processing techniques, safety protocols, and waste management strategies exist globally, the extent of their implementation across the African continent is ambiguous. Researchers, policymakers, and non-governmental organisations are urged to adopt planetary health solutions to foster eco-friendly alternatives and mitigate exploitation hazards.
Rare earth metals are vital for modern technologies including green energy and medicine, but their extraction carries heavy health and environmental costs. Clarifying the African context is essential to prevent uncontrolled contamination as mining operations expand, ensuring economic activities do not compromise the long-term well-being of local communities and ecosystems.
The abstract does not indicate a direct commercial application pathway or specific technology readiness level, focusing instead on policy needs, research gaps, and the necessity for safer waste and processing frameworks.
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The rise of globalization and industrialization has driven the demand for rare earth metals (REMs). These metals are widely used in various sectors of the global economy with various applications in medicine, renewable energy, electronics, agriculture, and the military. REMs are likely to remain an important part of our global future, and, as production increases, areas contaminated by REMs are expected to expand over the coming decades. Thus, triggering significant adverse environmental, animal, and human health impacts. Despite increased attention on REMs outside China in recent years, there are limited studies exploring REM production, deposits, and associated health impacts in the African context. Proper mine management, adequate safety protocols, sustainable processing methods, and waste handling systems have been identified and proposed globally; however, the nature and scale of implementing these management protocols on the African continent have been less clear. Therefore, planetary health-centered solutions are urgently needed to be undertaken by researchers, policy makers, and non-governmental actors in Africa and across the globe. This is with the overarching aim of ensuring eco-friendly alternatives and public health consciousness on REM exploitations and hazards for future generations to come.
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DOI: 10.3390/challe14020020
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