Atmospheric Environment 35 (2001) 2987–2996 European emissions of atmospheric mercury from anthropogenic sources in 1995 E.G. Pacyna a, *, J.M. Pacyna a , N. Pirrone b a Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Kjeller, Norway b CNR Institute for Atmospheric Pollution (CNR-IIA), Rende, Italy Received 20 February 2000; received in revised form 10 October 2000; accepted 16 October 2000 Abstract Estimates of atmospheric emissions of mercury from anthropogenic sources in Europe in 1995 are presented with the information on emissions of both total mercury and its major chemical and physical forms. The 1995 anthropogenic emissions of total emissions were estimated to be about 342 tonnes, a decrease of 45% compared to these emissions in 1990. Combustion of fuels, particularly coal has been the major source of anthropogenic emissions contributing to more than half to the total emissions. The emissions from coal combustion have not changed significantly over the past decade. Major decrease has been estimated for emissions from industrial processes, particularly the chlor-alkali production using the Hg cell process. In 1995 the Europe emissions of anthropogenic mercury contributed about 13% to the global emissions of this element from anthropogenic sources. The anthropogenic Hg emissions in Europe were still higher than the natural emissions in the region, estimated to be about 250–300 tonnes per year. The accuracy of estimates of anthropogenic emissions of Hg in Europe in 1995 is considered to be between 25 and 50%. The most accurate seem to be the estimates for combustion sources, while the most incomplete data were collected and=or estimated for waste disposal. The emissions of gaseous elemental mercury contributed about 61% to the emissions of the total mercury, while the contribution of gaseous bivalent mercury and particulate mercury was 32 and 7%, respectively. # 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Atmospheric emission; Anthropogenic sources; Mercury and its species 1. Introduction Processing of mineral resources at high temperatures, such as combustion of fossil fuels, roasting and smelting of ores, kiln operations in cement industry, as well as incineration of wastes and production of certain chemicals result in the release of several volatile trace elements into the environment. Mercury is one of the most important trace elements emitted into the environ- ment due to its toxic effects on the environmental and human health, as well as its role in the chemistry of the atmosphere and other environmental compartments. Various international and national organizations and programs have been involved in assessing the current status of environmental contamination by mercury and in developing strategies and policies to reduce emissions of this pollutant. Major international activity to assess source–receptor relationships for mercury in the envir- onment has been carried out within the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Convention on long- range transboundary air pollution transmission (LRTAP). The aim of this activity is to assess major sources of mercury emissions in Europe, the environ- mental impact of these emissions, and eventually the emission reductions. There are also at least three other conventions in Europe working on the basis of interna- tional agreements which aim at the reduction of environmental fluxes of various pollutants to the marine *Corresponding author. E-mail address: jozef.pacyna@nilu.no (E.G. Pacyna). 1352-2310/01/$ - see front matter # 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII:S1352-2310(01)00102-9