Editing Lanthanide (section)

==Biological effects==
Due to their sparse distribution in the earth's crust and low aqueous solubility, the lanthanides have a low availability in the biosphere, and for a long time were not known to naturally form part of any biological molecules. In 2007 a novel [[methanol dehydrogenase]] that strictly uses lanthanides as enzymatic [[Cofactor (biochemistry)|cofactors]] was discovered in a bacterium from the phylum [[Verrucomicrobiota]], ''[[Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum]]''. This bacterium was found to survive only if there are lanthanides present in the environment.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = ((Pol, A., et al)) | title = Rare Earth Metals Are Essential for Methanotrophic Life in Volcanic Mudpots. | journal = Environ Microbiol | volume = 16 | issue = 1 | pages = 255–264 | year = 2014 | pmid = 24034209 | doi = 10.1111/1462-2920.12249 | url = https://repository.ubn.ru.nl//bitstream/handle/2066/128108/128108.pdf | access-date = 5 December 2023 | archive-date = 17 January 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240117120818/https://repository.ubn.ru.nl//bitstream/handle/2066/128108/128108.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> Compared to most other [[dietary mineral|nondietary elements]], non-radioactive lanthanides are classified as having low toxicity.<ref name=Ullmann>McGill, Ian (2005) "Rare Earth Elements" in ''Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry'', Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. {{doi|10.1002/14356007.a22_607}}.</ref> The same nutritional requirement has also been observed in ''[[Methylorubrum extorquens]]'' and ''[[Methylobacterium radiotolerans]]''.