TCEs stands for technology-critical elements, a group of chemical elements for which imbalances between supply and demand exist or are deemed probable. This article challenges the scientific usefulness of such a classification when dealing with environmental and toxicological issues. Criticality is an economic conceptualization that is not well suited to guiding environmental chemistry research efforts. The classification is even counterproductive because it does not foster collaborative research with the countries directly touched by the environmental problems which are directly linked to the production of the elements. More at: doi:10.1007/s11356-020-08621-7