Regional differences in worldwide emissions of mercury to the atmosphere

Annual emissions of anthropogenic Hg to the atmosphere in different regions of the world during the last decade show an interesting dichotomy: the emissions in the developed countries increased at the rate of about 4.5–5.5% yr−1 up to 1989 and have since remained nearly constant, while in developing countries the emissions continue to rise steadily at the rate of 2.7–4.5% yr−1. On a global basis, however, the total anthropogenic emissions of Hg increased by about 4% yr−1 during the 1980s, peaked in 1989 at about 2290 t and are currently decreasing at the rate of about 1.3% yr−1. Solid waste disposal through incineration processes is the dominant source of atmospheric mercury in North America ( 40%), Central and South America ( 34%), western Europe ( 28%) and Africa ( 30%), whereas coal combustion remains the dominant source in Asia ( 42%) and eastern Europe and the former USSR ( 40%). Mining and smelting of Zn and Pb represent the major industrial source of Hg in Oceania ( 35%).