Levels of rare earth elements in Dutch drinking water and its sources. Determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and toxicological implications. A pilot study

The determination of rare earth elements (REE) in water samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was evaluated with respect to selection of isotopes, detection limits, precision, matrix effects, and spectral interferences. The method was applied to raw and drinking water samples of 18 groundwater stations and two surface water stations, and to samples taken from the rivers Rhine and Meuse and from Lake IJsselmeer. Significant amounts of REE were found in the raw water samples of 8 locations and in the drinking water of 3 locations. Of the groundwater stations high concentrations of REE were only found for phreatic winnings of moderate depths having low carbonate contents. From general literature information indicative admissible drinking water concentrations were derived and compared with the found concentrations. For two of the three locations mentioned the indicative admissible concentrations were exceeded for a number of REE elements and possible health risks for humans could not be excluded.