RUSCH Resource potential and environmental impact of heavy metals

With the material flow analysis, the present report of the Federal Environment Agency shows flows, cargoes and storage of the heavy metals lead, cadmium and mercury in Austria. This method makes it possible to balance resources, estimate the loads in the waste streams and analyze the impact on the environment. This system analysis is complemented by detailed product-related studies, e.g. for cadmium in accumulators, heavy metals in plastics, lead in pipes and ammunition or mercury in dentistry and thermometers. Existing national and international measures are also presented. Among other things, the following recommendations were derived: • Prohibition of lead shot in hunting and sport shooting, • Phase out of dental amalgam, • Repatriation of mercury thermometers from households and • Restriction of emissions from crematoria.本报告由奥地利联邦环境署（Federal Environment Agency）基于物质流分析（material flow analysis）方法编制，系统展示了奥地利境内重金属铅、镉、汞的流动路径、运载量及存储状态。该方法可实现资源平衡核算、估算废弃物流中的污染物负荷，并分析其对环境的影响。此项系统分析还辅以针对特定产品的详细研究，例如蓄电池（accumulators）中的镉、塑料制品中的重金属、管道及弹药中的铅，以及牙科诊疗与温度计中的汞。报告同时介绍了现有国内及国际相关管控措施。据此提出以下建议： • 禁止狩猎及运动射击使用铅弹（lead shot） • 逐步淘汰牙科银汞合金（dental amalgam） • 回收家用汞温度计并交由专业机构进行无害化处置 • 限制火葬场（crematoria）的污染物排放