---

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on mercury emissions from UK power stations. [97518] Alun Michael: The following table shows total estimated UK emissions of mercury from all sources up to 2001 (the latest date for which figures are available). The estimated emission of mercury to air from UK power generation in 2001 was 1.65 tonnes, representing 19 per cent. of total UK mercury emissions. Total emissions have fallen by 72 per cent. (from 31.6 tonnes to 8.8 tonnes) since 1990. Mercury emissions from power stations have fallen by 80 per cent. (from 8.36 tonnes to 1.65 tonnes), over the same period. UK emissions of mercury by UN/ECE Category (tonnes) _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1970 1980 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 % Comb. in energy prod Public power 7.47 8.10 8.36 8.26 7.93 4.98 4.88 4.47 2.91 2.98 2.72 1.68 1.61 1.65 19% Petroleum 0.09 0.09 0.06 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.05 0.05 1% refining Other comb 0.49 0.17 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0% and trans. Comb. in comm/inst/res Comm/inst 2.28 0.90 0.95 0.94 0.81 0.43 0.36 0.26 0.28 0.31 0.19 0.17 0.14 0.15 2% Residential 3.93 1.93 1.04 1.16 1.00 1.15 1.01 0.75 0.77 0.66 0.60 0.60 0.53 0.59 7% plant Agriculture/ 0.06 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0% forestry/aqu aculture Combustion in industry Iron and 1.09 0.46 0.58 0.54 0.55 0.54 0.55 0.56 0.58 0.58 0.58 0.56 0.52 0.49 6% steel comb Industry- 4.02 2.47 2.88 2.98 2.94 3.12 2.92 2.92 2.30 1.95 1.37 0.32 0.78 0.74 8% non-ferrous metals Other ind. 5.64 2.34 2.17 2.20 2.45 2.31 2.25 2.11 1.90 1.82 1.70 1.40 0.99 1.30 15% comb Production processes Iron and 0.56 0.30 0.44 0.41 0.41 0.41 0.42 0.44 0.44 0.45 0.42 0.44 0.51 0.28 3% steel Non ferrous 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0% metals Processes in 11.27 10.24 8.09 8.89 7.43 3.29 3.60 4.21 2.40 1.14 1.31 1.50 1.44 1.48 17% industry Road 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0% transport Other 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0% trans/mach Waste Waste- 7.36 7.58 6.41 6.38 6.21 3.16 2.94 2.82 2.39 1.77 1.81 1.84 1.82 1.68 19% incineration Landfill 0.59 0.59 0.59 0.56 0.52 0.48 0.45 0.41 0.41 0.41 0.40 0.40 0.39 0.39 4% Total 44.90 35.20 31.60 32.40 30.30 20.00 19.50 19.00 14.50 12.20 11.20 9.00 8.80 8.80 100% _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Source: National Atmospheric Emissions Inventor

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

97518; 399 c850W;399 c848W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Air pollution Pollution Power stations Pollution control Mercury

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk