CAS Number
7440-66-6
Properties
- heavy metal
- trace element
Main sources
- waste incineration
- steelworks (founding of metal waste)
- industrial and other waste water
- motorised road transport (tyre wear)
- corrosion protection work (galvanisation of steel)
- treatment of zinc-containing products (e.g. paints, surface coatings, alloys, zinc-coated pipes)
Thresholds for the reporting requirement of facilities in accordance with Annex 2 PRTRO
(Ordinance on the Register relating to Pollutant Release and the Transfer of Waste and of Pollutants in Waste Water)
- Air 200 kg/year
- Water 100 kg/year
- Soil 100 kg/year
Impacts
- toxic in high concentrations
- harmful to plant growth
Ambient limit values of zinc
In dust fall out 400 µg/m2 day annual mean (arithmetic mean)
Status and changes
Zinc levels in the environment caused by pollution inputs from the air have decreased by 40% to 60% since the 1990s (depending on the site). As a rule, the zinc levels are way below the limit values stipulated in the Ordinance on Air Pollution Control.
