Is Rare Earth Elements (REE) really not safe?

You don't need more introduction what is Rare Earth Elements (REE), you can find full list of explanation of REE from the web. 


We have heard of general comments that rare earth is one dangerous element, poses radioactivity, pollute our environment.


I just want to clarify this, rare earth elements (REE) are group of 17 metallic elements, which by itself doesn't pose any danger, which is as benign as other common metals we touch everyday. 


What is danger is actually the radioactive materials that are bound naturally with the REE, and occur in a wide range of mineral types. Examples of those radioactive materials are (its minerals in bracket) : Thorium (Monazite), Cerium (Allanite), and Uranium in Euxenite etc. There are at least 20 REE-bound minerals found in earth crust, about half of the list contains one of more radioactive materials that bound with REE and other substances such as phosphates, oxides, carbonates. 


So, instead of REE, I'd say it's the extracting/processing of radioactive-containing rare earth minerals, it's the wastes and by products, which are not safe.


Thanks for reading