Estimation of lead and zinc emissions from mineral exploitation based on characteristics of lead/zinc deposits in China

Nonferrous mining activities are some of the largest sources of heavy metals emissions into the environment and China is one of the largest producers and consumers of lead and zinc in the world. The cumulative productions and emissions of lead and zinc from mining-related activities in China were estimated. Up to 2007, the cumulative productions of lead and zinc in China were estimated to be about 6.69 and 12.59 Mt, respectively; and about 1.62 Mt lead and 3.32 Mt zinc emitted into the ambient environment during the mining, processing and smelting activities, representing 24.39% and 26.36% cumulative production, respectively. Among these three types of mining-related activities, mineral processing contributes the most to the total emission of 50.67% lead and 45.51% zinc.