A method for reducing heavy metals, in particular in mercury, present in flue gases, includes the step of bringing the flue gases into contact with a particular class of sorbent material in the dry state. A preferred class of dry sorbent materials can be provided from a mineral compound selected from among halloysites and phyllosilicates of the palygorskite subgroup and the sepiolite subgroup of the palygorskite-sepiolite group according to the Dana classification. Mineral compounds of this group have been shown to provide a reduction in heavy metals, in particular in mercury, present in flue gases.