In the Republic ofMacedonia, information about rare earth elements (REEs) distribution patterns, transportation
and speciation characteristics (from soil to plants) is very rare. Therefore, the concentrations of REEs in Kočani
paddy soils and rice samples from the Republic of Macedonia were measured and evaluated. The elevated concentrations
of REEs in paddy soils can be explained by contributions fromacidic and intermediate igneous rocks,
which are one of the main source materials for Kočani paddy soils. Low percentages of REEs were bound to the
water-soluble and exchangeable fractions, revealing low mobility of REEs in the investigated paddy soils.
Furthermore, small amounts of REEs were detected in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain samples. The calculated
transfer values (TF) for REEs in rice samples were also very low, confirming a small accumulation of REEs
(La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm) by the studied crops and in the Kočani soil–plant system
