Abstract: ObjectiveTo provide more information on chronic and genetic toxicity of rare earth,the effects of Y³⁺ in drinking water on DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocyte cells of rats were evaluated.MethodsThe ablactation rats and their F1 generation were fed with water dissolved Y³⁺ at different level(0,53.4,5340 mg/L).After 6 months,DNA damages in peripheral blood lymphocyte cells of F1 rats were evaluated with the single cell gel electro pho resis(SCGE).Re sults The Comet Length(28.80±5.01)in low dose and the Tail Length(3.04±0.20)and Comet Length(28.52±5.18)in high dose increased sig nificantly compared with control(P<0.05).ConclusionY³⁺ could induce some damages of DNA inperipheral blood lymphocyte cells of rats which suggests that rare earth had some genetic toxicity.