They are found in medicines, electric vehicles, cell phones, wind turbines or fertilizers and have mysterious names like scandium or gadolinium. So-called rare earths (short “REE” for “Rare Earth Elements”) are also called the new gold of 21. Century because they are comparatively rare and only occur in certain regions of the world. Depending on the classification, these are up to 17 key metals that are used for high-tech devices. Although they are widespread in green technologies and are literally elementary for the change to a more sustainable industry, the mining of metals pollutes the environment.

But not only that: If the electronics become electronic waste, rare earths could also contaminate the earth after their use. For example, it is considered likely that these metals, which are so widely used by humans, will end up in the sea and cause further damage there. How big it is, researchers want to find out as part of the “Elementary” project headed by the Norwegian SINTEF, Scandinavia’s largest independent research organization.

Norway is a paradox: Europe’s largest oil and gas nation is also number one in terms of climate protection when it comes to power generation and car traffic. At this point, Ben Schwan reports on innovations from the land of the fjords – and its peculiarities.

Influence on maritime life “We know that rare earths, when used as additives, are processed in such a way that when they end up in nature they behave differently than in their natural mineral state” says project manager and SINTEF researcher Julia Farkas. At present, however, too little is known about the REE concentration in Norwegian waters and its possible influence on maritime life.

An international one A research team of Danish, German and Norwegian researchers want to investigate this in various fjords using water samples. Sediments and various organisms such as seaweed, mussels and fish are also checked. Four so-called hot spots have already been identified, for example the coastal areas of the city of Trondheim, Norway’s third largest municipality and the headquarters of SINTEF. There the REE concentrations are measured in the vicinity of possible sources of runoff. In particular, the gadolinium used in medical contrast media is first looked at. The samples are compared with REE background values ​​so that the influence of human use can be identified.

A threat that cannot be assessed Julia Farkas and her team are also investigating how much REE gets into the water through mobile phone scrap, for example from their screens, and what the reasons are. For example, does it make a difference how intact the device is? For comparison, identical models in different conditions and over different periods of time are each placed in a container with fjord water. “The fact is, we just don’t know if any of these devices are littering them in the Norwegian sea,” says Farkas. “So we don’t know anything about the possible effects this junk could have on marine organisms.”

For Norway, the sea has not only an ecological, but above all an economically indispensable value. Fish and seafood retail sales have increased steadily over the past few decades. Most of the salmon farms are in fjord water. Accordingly, one of the main research areas of the project is economically relevant fish species.

(bsc)