Standardized toolkit for identification and quantification of mercury releases

4.2Step 1: Screening matrix; identification of main source categories present

99. 
    The first step in developing a standardized mercury source inventory is identification of main source categories present in the country (or region) investigated, and the main release routes for each category. If you have completed Inventory Level 1, this step in Inventory Level 2 need not be done again. The coarse screening matrix provided in Table 4 -2 below facilitates preliminary evaluation of activities (industries, product uses, domestic activities, etc.), which potentially release mercury to one or more of the output pathways as defined above. For each main source category, the presence or absence of the activity in the country or region should be confirmed.
    
100. 
     As an additional element in this initial work - and for further use - any existing partial inventories or descriptions of mercury sources in the country should be identified.
     

Table 4 2 Screening Matrix – Main source categories and release pathways

Chapter	Main Source Category	Air	Water	Land	Products	Waste/ residue
5.1	Extraction and use of fuels/energy sources	X	X	x	x	X
5.2	Primary (virgin) metal production	X	X	X	X	X
5.3	Production of other minerals and materials with mercury impurities	X	x	x	x	x
5.4	Intentional use of mercury in industrial processes	X	X	X	X	X
5.5	Consumer products with intentional use of mercury	X	X	X	X	X
5.5	Other intentional products/process uses	X	X	X	X	X
5.6	Production of recycled metals ("secondary" metal production)	X	X	X	X	X
5.7	Waste incineration	X	X	X	x	X
5.9	Waste deposition/landfilling and waste water treatment	X	X	X		X
5.10	Crematoria and cemeteries	X		X		x
5.10	Identification of potential hot-spots	Probably registration only, to be followed by site-specific evaluation

Notes: X - Release pathway expected to be predominant for the individual main source category;
x - Additional release pathways to be considered, depending on specific source and national situation.

101. 
     These main mercury source categories are broad enough to capture the wide variety of industries, processes and/or activities known to potentially cause releases of mercury. Each main source category is structured to have common characteristics and manageable complexity. In the screening matrix, the large “X” denotes the release pathway expected to be predominant for the individual main source category, and the small “x” shows additional release pathways that should be considered. While some main source categories may generally contribute more than others to a national mercury release inventory, this distinction is deliberately not made here, as these relations are expected to differ considerably depending on national or regional conditions.
     
102. 
     It should be noted that, for simplification, releases to water and to waste water treatment systems are treated as one in the table. The same is the case with general waste and sector specific waste treatment.
     
103. 
     The coarse screening matrix provides guidance on the areas in which information will be required, and may influence the composition of a team to collect initial information about possible sources of mercury present in a country. The screening matrix will be the starting point for a strategy to seek advice and expertise that will be needed during the more detailed information gathering and data evaluation work.
     
104. 
     Resource persons with thorough knowledge of the sectors, where mercury releases can happen in the country (or region), can be very valuable in the creation of a mercury inventory. Emphasis should be put on the identification of such persons. Such persons may be industry's own experts, from research institutions, from local or national environmental authorities, relevant consultants, among others. Such resource persons may have significant knowledge that has not been reported and published.