Perspectives on the Temporal Development of Mercury Inputs into the Environment

Abstract

Anthropogenic discharges of mercury are from electricity generation through coal and oil burning, solid and urban wastes, and from agriculture and forestry practices. These sources mobilize large amounts of Hg in the biosphere (ca. 11000 tons year^-1; Table 7.1), while release through natural weathering processes is less than one tenth of those from anthropogenic sources (ca. 900 tons year^-1). However, the mobilization of Hg from natural sources to the atmosphere of circa 2500 tons year^-1 is, contrary to all other heavy metal pollutants, similar to the anthropogenic emissions to the atmosphere of nearly 3550 tons year^-1 (Table 7.2). This natural atmospheric input is very high compared to all other heavy metals of environmental significance.