UNEP Global Mercury Partnership Study Report on Mercury from Non-Ferrous Metals Mining and Smelting

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).