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Page last updated : 30/06/2010

Mercury - Hg

Source : CITEPA / SECTEN format - April 2010

Survey period : since 1990

Emissions Variations
Emissions in 2008 : 4.0 t Variation 2008 / 1990 : -83 %
Maximum observed : 24 t in 1990 Variation 2008 / maximum : -83 %
Minimum observed : 4.0 t in 2008 Variation 2008 / minimum : 0 %

Main emitters in 2008 (top 5 of total emissions) :
  1 - Chemical industry 24 %
2 - Non-metallic mineral, construction materials 16 %
3 - Other energy conversion sectors 15 %
4 - Waste treatment 14 %
5 - Iron and steel industry 5.5 %


Comments

Mercury emissions amounted to 4 t in 2008 in mainland France.

There were two main sources of mercury emissions : energy conversion and manufacturing industry with respectively 26% and 68% of total emissions in mainland France in 2008.

The residential/tertiary sector represented 4.5% of the emissions in mainland France for the year 2008 and agriculture/forestry 1.1%.

In the energy conversion sector, emissions came mainly from the other energy conversion sub-sector (it represented 58% of the emissions of the sector in 2008), in particular because of incineration of household waste with energy recovery (41%). During the 1990-2008 period, the emissions of that sub-sector had a reduction of 91% especially due to progressive compliance of waste incineration plants (MSWI) with the decree of 25 January 1991.

In the manufacturing industry sector, the main sub-sources were in 2008 :

  • chemical industry sub-sector (35% of the emissions of the sector), especially chlorine production (around 21% of the manufacturing industry sector),
  • non-metallic mineral, construction materials sub-sector (24%), particularly from cement (14% of the emissions of the sector),
  • waste treatment sub-sector (incineration of industrial waste) with 21% of the emissions.

Mercury emissions decreased considerably since 1990 : a fall of 82% between 1990 and 2008 (-20 t). This is a result of major improvements in waste incineration techniques and preventive measures such as restricting or banning the mercury content in batteries and clinical thermometers, waste sorting and improvements done for the process of chlorine production.

In the coming years, the use of electrolysis mercury should be prohibited not later than 2019 and the industry will have to evolve their process accordingly. The reduction of toxic substances is a priority of the new National Health Environment (PNSE2) provided by the Grenelle of Environment.

 
 
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