като се поразрових малко и разбрах каква е основната причина, добива на редкоземни елементи да се аутсорсва в страни от т.нар. трети свят.
ето какво рече дийпсийк по въпроса:

Rare earth metal mining and processing have significant environmental impacts due to the unique geochemistry of these elements and the methods required to extract them. Below are the key environmental considerations:

1. Radioactive Waste
Thorium and Uranium Byproducts: Rare earth ores often contain radioactive elements like thorium and uranium. Processing releases these into waste (tailings), posing risks of groundwater contamination and radiation exposure.

Tailings Management: Improper storage of radioactive tailings can lead to long-term environmental hazards (e.g., leakage into water systems).

2. Toxic Chemical Use
Acid Leaching: Extraction involves acids (e.g., sulfuric, hydrochloric) to dissolve rare earths from ore. These chemicals can leak into soil and water, harming ecosystems and human health.

Solvent Extraction: Separating individual rare earths requires toxic solvents, which may persist in the environment if not managed properly.

3. Water Pollution
Contaminated Runoff: Mining and processing release heavy metals (e.g., cadmium, lead) and fluorine into waterways, poisoning aquatic life and making water unsafe for consumption.

High Water Consumption: Processing requires large volumes of water, straining local supplies in arid regions (e.g., China’s Inner Mongolia mines).

4. Habitat Destruction
Open-Pit Mining: Large-scale surface mining (e.g., Bayan Obo in China) destroys landscapes, displaces wildlife, and fragments ecosystems.

Deforestation: Clearing land for mines reduces biodiversity and disrupts carbon sinks.

5. Soil Degradation
Acidification: Chemical runoff lowers soil pH, reducing fertility and harming agriculture.

Heavy Metal Accumulation: Toxic metals in soil can enter the food chain, affecting human and animal health.

6. Air Pollution
Dust and Particulates: Mining operations generate dust containing rare earth particles and radioactive materials, risking respiratory illnesses in nearby communities.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Energy-intensive processing (e.g., calcination) relies on fossil fuels, contributing to CO₂ emissions.

7. Long-Term Legacy Issues
Abandoned Mines: Inactive mines can leach pollutants for decades if not rehabilitated.

Ion Adsorption Clay Mining: Common in southern China, this method involves stripping vegetation and topsoil, leading to severe erosion and landslides.

Case Studies
Bayan Obo (China): The world’s largest rare earth mine produces ~45% of global supply but has created a radioactive waste lake and contaminated farmland.

Mountain Pass (USA): A historic mine shut down in 2002 due to environmental violations but reopened with stricter waste management protocols.

Lynas Corp (Malaysia): Faced protests over radioactive waste storage from its Australian rare earth processing plant.

Mitigation Strategies
Recycling: Recovering rare earths from e-waste (e.g., magnets, batteries) reduces mining demand.

Greener Extraction: Developing bioleaching (using bacteria) or ionic liquids to replace toxic chemicals.

Circular Economy: Designing products for easier rare earth recovery and reuse.

Strict Regulations: Enforcing mine rehabilitation, water treatment, and radiation monitoring (e.g., EU’s REACH regulations).

Paradox of Green Tech
Rare earths are critical for renewable energy (wind turbines, EVs) and electronics, but their extraction often contradicts sustainability goals. Balancing demand with ethical, low-impact mining is a global challenge.

For deeper insights, organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) publish guidelines on sustainable rare earth management.

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