Natural and Anthropogenic Mercury Sources
13
Table 7. Estimated north American anthropogenic sources of mercury emissions as of base year 1990
(t year ') to the atmosphere. (Porcella et al. 1996)
Source categeory
Canada
Mexico
USA
Power generation
6.0
2.7"
42.0
Industrial/commercial
Coal
6.8
1.2"
17.9
Residential coal
0.2"
3.2
Municipal waste Combustion
1.4
ISS'
45.5
Medical Waste Combustion
0.3
3.8 b
11.1
Manufacturin~/smelting
32.0
55.9"
27.7
Miscellaneous'
3.9"
7.7
Total
46.5
83.2"
154.1
Percentage
16.4%
29.3%
54.3%
.• Extrapolated.
b Some sources remain unaccounted for.
contribution of Canadian mercury emission to North American emission is
<20%; the USA has the maximum contribution of just over 50%.
Based on these estimates, Porcella et al. (1996) calculated that North America
contributes about 8% of the global anthropogenic estimates of mercury
emissions into the atmosphere. It is evident from Table 7 that the contributions
from power generation and municipal waste combustion are the most
significant sources in North America. However, the overall pattern of the
relative importance of the individual source categories varies from country to
country.
3.2
Anthropogenic Mercury Emissions in Europe
A summary of atmospheric emissions of mercury from anthropogenic sources in
Europe is presented in Table 8 (Pacyna 1996). The most recent European
emission inventory for mercury also used the 1990 statistical data (Pacyna 1994).
The inventory was prepared on the basis of emission factors and the results of
emission estimates for 1987 (Axenfeld et al. 1991). These regional estimates were
compared with the available national emission data. The percentage emission of
mercury from different sources has also been summarized in Table 8. It is clear
from the table that the contribution of combustion sources is about 30%, while
industrial emissions make the maximum contribution (>60%).
The dominance of the main source categories varies countrywise. However, it
appears that there are four different categories or types in which the countries
may be grouped as follows.
Category 1: mainly industry: ex-GDR, ex-Czechoslovakia, Belgium, The Netherlands
Category 2: mainly combustion: Russia, Yugoslavia, Poland, Romania
Category 3: combustion + industry: Bulgaria, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, UK
Category 4: balance of all four sources: ex-FRG, Austria, Scandinavian countries
13
Table 7. Estimated north American anthropogenic sources of mercury emissions as of base year 1990
(t year ') to the atmosphere. (Porcella et al. 1996)
Source categeory
Canada
Mexico
USA
Power generation
6.0
2.7"
42.0
Industrial/commercial
Coal
6.8
1.2"
17.9
Residential coal
0.2"
3.2
Municipal waste Combustion
1.4
ISS'
45.5
Medical Waste Combustion
0.3
3.8 b
11.1
Manufacturin~/smelting
32.0
55.9"
27.7
Miscellaneous'
3.9"
7.7
Total
46.5
83.2"
154.1
Percentage
16.4%
29.3%
54.3%
.• Extrapolated.
b Some sources remain unaccounted for.
contribution of Canadian mercury emission to North American emission is
<20%; the USA has the maximum contribution of just over 50%.
Based on these estimates, Porcella et al. (1996) calculated that North America
contributes about 8% of the global anthropogenic estimates of mercury
emissions into the atmosphere. It is evident from Table 7 that the contributions
from power generation and municipal waste combustion are the most
significant sources in North America. However, the overall pattern of the
relative importance of the individual source categories varies from country to
country.
3.2
Anthropogenic Mercury Emissions in Europe
A summary of atmospheric emissions of mercury from anthropogenic sources in
Europe is presented in Table 8 (Pacyna 1996). The most recent European
emission inventory for mercury also used the 1990 statistical data (Pacyna 1994).
The inventory was prepared on the basis of emission factors and the results of
emission estimates for 1987 (Axenfeld et al. 1991). These regional estimates were
compared with the available national emission data. The percentage emission of
mercury from different sources has also been summarized in Table 8. It is clear
from the table that the contribution of combustion sources is about 30%, while
industrial emissions make the maximum contribution (>60%).
The dominance of the main source categories varies countrywise. However, it
appears that there are four different categories or types in which the countries
may be grouped as follows.
Category 1: mainly industry: ex-GDR, ex-Czechoslovakia, Belgium, The Netherlands
Category 2: mainly combustion: Russia, Yugoslavia, Poland, Romania
Category 3: combustion + industry: Bulgaria, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, UK
Category 4: balance of all four sources: ex-FRG, Austria, Scandinavian countries