Anthropogenic mercury emissions (in t per y)

Besides natural release of mercury from volcanic activity and rock weathering, mercury may be released from a range of anthropogenic sources, including: energy production (in particular, from coal combustion); industrial processes (such as cement production, metallurgical processes, and processes using mercury as a catalyst); waste management (in particular, incineration and landfilling); and artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Europe accounts for about 6% of global mercury emissions from human activities.