Global emissions of mercury to the air in 2010 from human ac- tivities were estimated at 1,960 tonnes. Although it is difficult to compare emissions estimates for individual years, total an- thropogenic emissions of mercury to the atmosphere appear to have been relatively stable from 1990 to 2010 (UNEP, 2013). There has been a large shift in regional patterns, however. Eco- nomic growth has driven an increase in anthropogenic emis- sions in Southern and Eastern Asia, which now account for
26 MERCURY – TIME TO ACT
about half of global emissions. Emissions in Sub-Saharan Af- rica and in South America are slowly rising (together account- ing for about 30 per cent of global emissions), while emissions are declining in North America and Europe (about eight per cent of global emissions altogether) (UNEP, 2013).
The largest anthropogenic sources are associated with arti- sanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) and coal burning,