The report aims to elucidate the fate of mercury within commercial smelters and refiners; estimate the magnitude of potential emissions and releases from the production of non-ferrous metals; and illustrate various technologies for controlling them. It has been compiled from expert consultations, and open access sources of information to present a critical review of existing knowledge and information gaps concerning mercury from the non-ferrous sector, showcase the different reduction methods, and provide relevant suggestions for further work including capacity development. Non-ferrous metals are all metals apart from iron. The emphasis in this report is on copper, lead, zinc and industrial gold, which all present a potential risk of significant emissions and releases of mercury and are included in the Minamata Convention on Mercury as a point source category of emissions. It does not include consideration of the primary mining of mercury, nor the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM).
The present study report has been developed in the context of the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership, following decision by the Partnership Advisory Group (PAG) at its tenth meeting (Geneva, 23 November 2019).
Macquarie University (Australia) was commissioned to draft the report, under the overall coordination of Peter Nelson, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Macquarie University.
The study report received input of partners of the Global Mercury Partnership as well as experts and stakeholders from various organizations and background. The development of the study report indeed benefitted from a consultative process, involving experts from governments, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, academia and the private sector, members of the Partnership as well as from other relevant organizations.
