REE production processes generally produce large amounts of waste. Values reported for the production of 1 tonne of REO in China are 60,000 m3 of waste gases, 200 m3 acidified water and 1.4 tonnes of radioactive waste (as most REE deposits contain uranium or thorium). The electricity needed for the energy intensive production processes comes with additional generation of waste and/or pollution (British Geological Survey, 2011), as does the production of the large amounts of chemicals required. (Schüler et al., 2011)


Possible air emissions from REE production include sulfur oxides, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride and dust, which may contain radioactive substances. Polluted water may contain radioactive substances, heavy metals, acids, fluorides and large amounts of ammonium. (Schüler et al., 2011) There are reports of emissions from REE facilities causing disease, poisoning, water pollution and destruction of farmlands. (British Geological Survey, 2011) For 1990s REE production in the US numerous types of waste produced in REE production processes were identified, including numerous types of solid waste, some of which contained lead or mercury, off-gases from several process steps (including particulates, acids, chlorine and carbon monoxide), waste solvents and processing solutions and possibly corrosive wastewater which could contain chromium, lead and ammonium. (US EPA - Office of Solid Waste, 1998



REO = 산화 희토류

REE = 희토류



조금 번역을 해보자면


희토류 산업에서 1ton의 REO는 6만 입방 미터의 폐가스 , 200 입방 미터의 산폐수 , 1.4톤의 방사성 폐기물이 생기고 많은 전력과 화학물질이 필요한 공정임


또한 SO2, HCl, HF, 먼지등 여러가지의 대기오염 물질이 발생하는데 이러한 대기오염 물질에는 방사성 물질이 포함될 수 있음


수원도 오염이 되는데 방사성 물질, 중금속, 플루오린, 엄청난 양의 암모니아로 오염이 된다고 함


러시아나 중국같은 나라가 채취하는 이유가 있음