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 ( similar to 40%), Central and South America ( similar to 34%), western Europe ( similar to 28%) and Africa ( similar to 30%), whereas coal combustion remains the dominant source in Asia ( similar to 42%) and eastern Europe and the former USSR ( similar to 40%). Mining and smelting of Zn and pb represent the major industrial source of Hg in Oceania ( similar to 35%). Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd
