Worker Safety in the Rare Earth Elements Recycling Process from the Review of Toxicity and Issues

This study was conducted to understand the potential hazard/risk of REE recycling, and to support the establishment of regulations or standards. We review the extensive literature on the toxicology, occupational safety, and health issues, and epidemiological surveys related to the REEs, and propose suitable management measures. REE recycling has four key steps of collection, dismantling, separation, and processing. In these processes, hazardous substances, such as REEs-containing dust, metals, and chemicals, were used or occurred, including the risk of ignition and explosion, and the workers can easily be exposed to them. In addition, skin irritation and toxicities for respiratory, nervous, and cardiovascular systems with the liver were reported; however, more supplementary data is needed, due to incompleteness. Therefore, monitoring systems concerning the health, environmental impacts, and safety are required to be established, based on additional research. It is also necessary to develop innovative and environment-friendly recycling technologies, analytical methods, and biomarkers with government support. Through these efforts, the occupational safety and health status will be improved, along with the establishment of advanced REE recycling industry.
Source: Safety and Health at Work - Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research