Objective   To study the effects of environmental exposure to rare earth elements(REEs)on physical growth and development of children.

  Methods   Indicators for physical growth and development, such as body height and weight, vital capacity, blood pressure etc, were measured in sampled 472 children aged 7-10 years living in RE ore containing area and the control area in Xunwu county, Jiangxi.While fifteen kinds of REEs in 112 blood samples(69 samples from exposure to REEs group and 43 samples from the control group)were determined by inductively coupled plasma soure mass spectrometry(ICP-MSs).Multiple regression analysis of blood REEs levels was conducted.

  Results   The quantity of blood REEs of the children in the RE area was 1.73 times as that of the children in the control area.The difference was significantly great(P < 0.01).There were negative correlation shown between blood REEs levels and vital capacity, blood pressure in children.Multiple regression analysis showed that blood REEs levels and time of mother work in RE ore area were introduced into the vital capacity and blood pressure regression model respectiveiy.

  Conclusion   Exposure to REEs could cause adverse effects on their physical growth and development of children.