Informing Canadians on Air Pollution

• The Importance of Clean Air for Canadians
• Sources of Air Pollution
• Tracking Air Pollution in Canada
• Air Pollution from Industrial & Commercial Facilities
• Action on Clean Air
• What Do I Need to Know Before Using the NPRI Information?
• Where To Go for More Information
• Contact Us

The Importance of Clean Air for Canadians

Smog affects both our health and the environment. The medical community agrees that air pollution worsens symptoms in those who suffer from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other lung and heart diseases. In fact, a Health Canada study of eight major Canadian cities in 2005 estimated that air pollution contributes to 5900 deaths a year.

The main pollutants that contribute to smog in Canada are sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and ammonia. They are called criteria air contaminants (CAC). Environment Canada and Health Canada consider these pollutants to be toxic substances. They also contribute to the acid deposition (such as acid rain) that causes damage to vegetation, aquatic ecosystems, buildings and materials.

Sources of Air Pollution

Air quality is affected by pollution from many different sources.  In Canada, the major sources of air pollutants are:  transportation, electric utilities using fossil fuels, industrial facilities, residential wood combustion (woodstoves), use of solvents, natural sources (such as forest fires) and open sources (such as dust from unpaved roads). 

Air quality in Canada is also affected by the pollutants that travel through the atmosphere from other countries, especially the United States.  While Canada is a source of some transboundary pollution south of the border, the prevailing wind direction and quantity of U.S. emissions makes it a significant source of smog and acid rain in certain regions of Canada.

Tracking Air Pollution in Canada

Environment Canada monitors air pollution through the Criteria Air Contaminants (CAC) emissions inventory and the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI). The CAC inventory program gathers data to estimate and forecast emissions of criteria air contaminants from all sources (such as forest fires, industries, residential heating, and transportation). The Government of Canada works with provinces and territories on the program.

The NPRI program collects information about pollution in Canada and makes it available to Canadians. Every year, thousands of industrial and commercial facilities meeting certain criteria are required to report information on pollutant releases to Environment Canada. The reports are required under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.  Also as part of the NPRI, since 2002, facilities are now reporting on CAC emissions to air.

Air Pollution from Industrial & Commercial Facilities

The pollutants that contribute to smog made up 97 per cent of the amount of air pollutants reported to the NPRI in 2004. Many (6936 out of 8469) of the industrial and commercial facilities that report to the NPRI, release these air pollutants. These facilities range from small oil and gas wells to large manufacturing plants.

Different sources have different relative contributions to air pollution in Canada. For instance, industrial sectors are the major source of sulphur dioxide emissions, while transportation is the major source of emissions of nitrogen oxides. The graphs below show trends in emissions of air pollutants from various sources. The green line shows industrial and commercial facilities that report to the NPRI since 2002, the bright blue line shows air pollution in Canada from all industrial sectors while the dark blue line shows the comprehensive emissions inventory data.

Sulphur oxides (SO_x)*

• Emissions of sulphur oxides have decreased substantially from the early 1990s due to changes in industrial processes for metal smelting, lowered sulphur content in fuels and sulphur reduction efforts by electric power generating facilities using fossil fuels. These reductions are being offset by increases in emissions from certain types of oil and gas operations.
• Sulphur dioxide¹ emissions reported to the NPRI in 2004 were similar to the amounts reported in 2002 and 2003. In all three years, most of the sulphur dioxide releases came from metal ore mining facilities and electric power generating facilities using fossil fuels.

Notes:
* The NPRI tracks sulphur dioxide (SO₂)
^1. Generally, sulphur dioxide makes up 95 to 98 percent of emissions of sulphur oxides (SO_x).

Ammonia (NH₃)

• Overall, ammonia emissions in Canada increased slightly from 1995 to 2004, while emissions from industrial and commercial sources remained relatively constant. Fertilizer use is the main source of the NH₃ emissions (80%) and accounts for most of the increase.

Nitrogen oxides (NO_x)

• Emissions of nitrogen oxides in Canada have remained relatively stable over the past 15 years. There have been reductions in the transportation sector (due to the implementation of stricter emission control measures) which have been offset by increases from certain oil and gas operations and electric power generating facilities using fossil fuels.
• NO_x emissions reported to the NPRI increased nearly a third from 2002 to 2004. This is mainly due to changes in reporting requirements; in 2003, when certain NPRI reporting exemptions were lifted, an additional 3000 oil and gas facilities began reporting. Since that year, these facilities have represented the largest source of NO_x emissions reported to the NPRI.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

• Emissions of volatile organic compounds decreased slightly between 1990 and 1999, with the most notable decrease occurring from 1990 to 1993. Reductions in VOC emissions from solvent use and transportation were partially offset by increases from certain oil and gas operations and electric power generating facilities using fossil fuels.
• Oil and gas operations have been the main source of VOC emissions reported to the NPRI since 2002.

Total Particulate Matter (TPM)

• While overall emissions of total particulate matter (TPM) have decreased over the past 15 years, emissions from some sectors such as residential wood combustion have remained constant, and continue to be significant contributors.
• Among the facilities reporting to the NPRI in 2002 to 2004, electric utility facilities using fossil fuels were the largest source of releases of total particulate matter. The decrease between 2002 and 2003 was due to emission reductions reported by one electric utility using fossil fuels.

Action on Clean Air

The Government of Canada wants to provide cleaner air for all Canadians. Because air pollution affects our health and natural environment, while costing our economy several billions of dollars a year, the Government of Canada considers cleaner air one of its main environmental priorities. Taking action on cleaner air can also benefit other clean air issues such as climate change, smog and acid rain.

The future…

Canada cannot achieve its environmental and health protection goals alone. Results depend on strategic collaboration among governments to harmonize regulations while improving competitiveness with partners both in Canada and across its international borders. Individuals and communities can also take action at the local level to reduce the amount of air pollution that is created. 

Further, the Government of Canada has an achievable, affordable, practical and realistic plan to protect the health of Canadians, and balance environmental sustainability with continued economic prosperity.

What do I need to know before using the NPRI information?

The NPRI provides a great deal of data and information, so it is a good idea to know the following:

• Not all pollutants are equally hazardous.  Whether or not a pollutant release poses a risk to humans or to the environment depends on many factors, including: whether the pollutant is released to air, land or water; if and how much it is broken down in the environment; the resulting amount and type of exposure for people and other organisms; and the pollutant’s ability to cause harm to human health and the environment.  Environment Canada and Health Canada continue to assess the health and environmental risks of new and existing substances.
• The NPRI only includes facilities that meet reporting requirements.Other sources of pollution, such as individuals, households, other industrial or commercial sectors, natural phenomena (such as volcanic eruptions and forest fires), are not included in the NPRI.  Some pollution is also generated from other countries.  This is known as transboundary pollution, and it is a key source of smog-forming pollutants and other air pollution in some areas of Canada.
• Some substances of concern are not reported to the NPRI.  For example, the Government of Canada regulates pesticides and tracks emissions of greenhouse gases in Canada through other programs.
• From year to year, facilities may report different amounts of pollutants that they release, dispose of or recycle.  This can occur for a number of reasons, ranging from new reporting requirements to changing production levels at a facility. It may also be updated from time to time as new or more up-to-date information is received and reviewed.
  

Where to Go For More Information

Visit the Communities Portal Web site at www.ec.gc.ca/npri/communities for easy access to pollution information.
The NPRI Communities Portal Web site has search tools that let you search for facility pollutant reports by community name, postal code, type of pollutant, health and environmental issues or a company name. The online maps show where facilities are located, and there are tips and ideas on how to take action in your community. There is also information about how pollution affects our health and the environment, what industry and governments are doing, and special features on current issues.

Visit the Clean Air Online website at www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur to learn more about clean air related issues.
Clean Air Online (CAOL) is a single-stop collection of information, making it easier for individuals to learn about the issues surrounding air pollution, what governments are doing and the actions that you can take to improve the quality of your environment.

Contact Us

Do you have questions about this report or need more information about its contents? If so, please contact us:

E-mail: npricomm@ec.gc.ca
Tel.: 1 800 668-6767
Fax: 819-994-1412
Web site: www.ec.gc.ca/npri/communities