HOW DOES MERCURY OCCUR IN THE ENVIRONMENT?
Mercury is a naturally occurring element that can be found throughout the environment. Human activities such as burning coal and using mercury to manufacture certain products, have increased the amount of mercury that is currently cycling in the atmosphere, in soils, and in lakes, streams and the oceans. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST SOURCES OF MERCURY AIR EMISSIONS? According to EPA’s 1999 National Emissions Inventory, coal-fired electric power plants are the largest source of human-caused mercury air emissions in the U.S. These power plants account for about 40% of total U.S. manmade mercury emissions. Other large sources are industrial boilers (about 10% of U.S. mercury emissions), burning hazardous waste (about 5%), and chlorine production (also about 5%). Burning municipal waste and medical waste was once a large source of emissions but today, in response to EPA and State regulations and reductions in mercury use, these sources are much less important. Municipal waste combustors (MWCs) and
