Global hexachlorobenzene emissions

Information from a variety of sources has been assembled tio give a global picture of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) emissions in the mid 1990s. No single ov erwhelming source of HCB was identified. The best estimates of global HCB e missions from different categories of sources are as follows: pesticides ap plication - 6500 kg/yr; manufacturing - 9500 kg/yr; combustion - 7000 kg/yr , includes 500 kg from biomass burning. This adds up to total current HCB e missions of approximately 23,000 kg/yr with an estimated range 12,000-92,00 0 kg/yr. A substantial portion of HCB measured in the atmosphere is thought to come from volatilization of "old" HCB on the soil from past contaminati on along; with unidentified sources. No information on potential sources in developing countries was available. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.