Mercury emissions from anthropogenic sources

This bachelor thesis is focused on mercury fluxes in the environment wit the emphasis on the industrial pollution. Based on general information about mercury and characteristics of it's compounds, occurrence in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and pedosphere mercury fluxes and behaviour of mercury in the global biogeochemical cycle are described. The main topic of this thesis is to overview all sectors, which are the main contributors to the global mercury pollution. The largest producers of the Hg emissions are coal-fired power plants, artisanal small-scale mining and the mining/production of non-ferrous metals. Conclusions are dedicated to comparisons of natural and anthropogenic emissions of Hg in the present and in pre-industrial times