Illegal Extraction of Rare Earth Harms Environment

Why do some people take a risk to extract rare earth illegally? And what impacts will illegal extraction bring to the environment and residents nearby?

This area began rare earth extraction since some time between May and June last year, according to people living in the neighbor. The illegal work site cover an area of 4 to 5 acres,there are physic permeating separation pool and reaction pool, where fills with acid liquids like oxalic acid, semi-finished product of extracted rare earth was put nearby. Exhausted gas and liquid generated by chemical reaction are actually been discharged directly, red liquid can be detected everywhere is some cannels in lower reaches. Residents complain that vegetables have been polluted.

It is said that, the extraction of rare earth is rather complex, besides, the content of rare earth is quite small in raw ores. Even though, rare earth is a kind of material that is of strategic importance to a country, in addition the price of rare earth is very high, that is why many people will take risk to extract rare earth secretly. But the extract consumes a large number of water. To make it easier to get water and exhaust waste water, work sites are usually located near water source or reservoir.

Dr. Wen of Applied Chemistry Department , Shenzhen University said that waste water exhausted after the extraction of rare earth contains acid and waste residue which are toxic and could be harmful to peripheral environment.   

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