Global hexachlorobenzene emissions

Information from a variety of sources has been assembled to give a global picture of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) emissions in the mid 1990s. No single overwhelming source of HCB was identified. The best estimates of global HCB emissions from different categories of sources are as follows: pesticides application – 6500 kg/yr; manufacturing – 9500 kg/yr; combustion – 7000 kg/yr, includes 500 kg from biomass burning. This adds up to total current HCB emissions of approximately 23,000 kg/yr with an estimated range 12,000–92,000 kg/yr. A substantial portion of HCB measured in the atmosphere is thought to come from volatilization of “old” HCB on the soil from past contamination along with unidentified sources. No information on potential sources in developing countries was available.