The ‘europium anomaly’ in plants: facts and fiction

Rare earth elements (REEs) and normalized REE pattern determined in plant and soil samples represent powerful tools to trace biogeochemical processes during weathering, soil genesis and processes in the rhizosphere, and thus publications reporting rare earth elements and normalized REE pattern in soil systems and plants are increasing rapidly. Generally, a normalized REE pattern allow for the recognition of an anomalous concentrations of an individual REE. In the literature anomalies are predominantly reported/focused for/on the redox-sensitive elements cerium (Ce) and europium (Eu) that can shift their oxidation state during interactions with organic and inorganic soil phases and biological processes affecting the elements’ mobility in soil and uptake by plants. Thus positive Eu anomalies in plants are often interpreted as a consequence of reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ in the rhizosphere followed by a preferential uptake of Eu2+. However, due to an analytical artefact in ICP-MS analysis, a false Eu anomaly may be reported. This can be avoided by using a barium (Ba) interference correction. We draw attention to the possibility of this problem and to being aware of potential occurrence when Eu anomalies are reported. Finally, we recommend (i) including information on how this potential problem was dealt with in the Materials and Methods section of articles and (ii) how to implement FAIR principles in the section (including data availability on an open repository).