An assessment of global and regional emissions of trace metals to the atmosphere from anthropogenic sources worldwide
Abstract
An accurate and complete emission inventory for atmospheric trace metals on a global scale is needed for both modeler community and policy makers to assess the current level of environmental contamination by these pollutants, major emission sources and source regions, and the contribution of the atmospheric pathway to the contamination of terrestrial and aquatic environments. Major progress has been made in assessing emissions of trace metals in various countries and even regions, e.g., Europe, since the first global emission estimate for these pollutants was made by Nriagu and Pacyna (1988). These improved national and regional emission inventories have been used in this work to assess the global trace metal emissions from anthropogenic sources in the mid-1990s. The results of this work conclude that stationary fossil fuel combustion continues to be the major source of Cr, Hg, Mn, Sb, Se, Sn, and Tl with respect to the coal combustion and the major source of Ni and V with respect to oil combustion. Combustion of leaded, low-leaded, and unleaded gasoline continues to be the major source of atmospheric Pb emissions. The third major source of trace metals is non-ferrous metal production, which is the largest source of atmospheric As, Cd, Cu, In, and Zn. The largest anthropogenic emissions of atmospheric trace metals were estimated in Asia. This can be explained by growing demands for energy in the region and increasing industrial production. As a result, the Asian emissions are not only larger than the emissions on other continents, but also show an increasing trend. Another factor contributing to high emissions in Asia is the efficiency of emission control, which is lower than in Europe and North America. Concerning the two latter continents, emissions of trace metals show a decreasing tendency over the last two decades. Key words: anthropogenic sources, atmospheric emissions, trace metals, global emission inventory
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Global atmospheric selenium budgets indicate atmospheric selenium input fluxes between 15.5 and 15.7 × 10^9 g/year, of which about 60% are natural and 40% anthropogenic emissions, although the natural contribution was smaller (25%) in the northern hemisphere due to anthropogenic emissions.
“Global atmospheric Se budgets [85,86,87,88,89] indicated that atmospheric Se input fluxes are between 15.5 and 15.7 × 109 g·year−1, of which ~60 and 40% are natural and anthropogenic emissions, respectively [40], although the contribution of natural emissions was found to be smaller (i.e., 25%) in the northern hemisphere due to anthropogenic emissions [90].”
From Selenium Cycling Across Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Interfaces: A Critical Review (2015) · cites this paper as [89]
Cites
A global assessment of natural sources of atmospheric trace metals
Nriagu, J. O. (1989) · Nature · doi:10.1038/338047a0 · Cited by 1,702 · see citing works
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Arsenic in the environment: Biology and Chemistry
Bhattacharya, P., Welch, A. H., Stollenwerk, K. G., McLaughlin, M. J., Bundschuh, J., & Panaullah, G. (2007) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.02.037 · Cited by 625 · see citing works
Selenium Cycling Across Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Interfaces: A Critical Review
Winkel, L., Vriens, B., Jones, G., Schneider, L., Pilon-Smits, E., & Bañuelos, G. (2015) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu7064199 · Cited by 476 · see citing works
“Global atmospheric Se budgets [85–89] indicated that atmospheric Se input fluxes are between 15.”
Background
- Authors
- Pacyna, J. M., & Pacyna, E. G.
- Venue
- Environmental Reviews
- Publisher
- Canadian Science Publishing
- Published
- 2001-12-01
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 269-298
- ISSN
- 1181-8700 (ISSN-L)
- 1208-6053
- OpenAlex
- W2130598929
- Cited by
- 1,178
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 54 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 95 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 73 · 2019: 88 · 2018: 60 · 2017: 63 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 70 · 2013: 49 · 2012: 40
- FWCI
- 12.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Reviews (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Nickel Producers Environmental Research Association
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Heavy metals in environment
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Environmental Policies and Emissions
- Keywords
- trace metals, atmospheric emissions, emission inventory, anthropogenic sources, coal combustion, oil combustion, gasoline combustion, lead emissions, non-ferrous metal production, Asia, emission trends, emission control, heavy metals
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