The materials flow of mercury in the United States

This report describes the materials how of mercury in the United States. It examines the mining and production of mercury and the manufacturing, uses, and ultimate disposal of mercury, Materials flowcharts were prepared for 1989 and 1990. An effort was made to include estimates for all major anthropogenic sources including fossil fuel combustion, waste incineration, and nonferrous metal mining operations. Mining and mineral processing released about 100 metric tons per year (mt/yr) of mercury to the environment in both 1989 and 1990. The combustion of fossil fuels released 175 mt/yr in the same years. The manufacturing, use, and disposal of products containing mercury accounted for the release of 1037 mt of mercury in 1989 and 938 mt in 1990. The manufacture of chlorine and caustic soda was a major source of recycled mercury, but it was all reused within the industry. Recovery from all waste products accounted for 36% of reported consumption in 1989 and 42% in 1990. The losses from manufacturing and end use have been declining, whereas mercury emitted from combustion sources has not been strictly regulated and will likely become the largest source of mercury releases to the environment.