AIR

The Air We Breathe

Every day, the average adult breathes about 15,000 to 20,000 litres of air.  Air is a mixture of gases that makes up our atmosphere and is vital to life on earth.  Air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions harm our environment and pose a threat to our health.

A small portion of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions comes from natural sources, such as forest fires, bogs and volcanic activity.  Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, using chemicals and industrial processes are the source of most air pollution. 

Air pollution and greenhouse gases are the cause of smog, climate change and land and water contamination when pollutants fall in rain or snow.

Air Pollutants

Some air pollutants are really bad for our health and can lead to long-term health problems, others can accumulate in the atmosphere and harm the environment.  Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has been monitoring and protecting our air quality for over 30 years. MOE is responsible for:

• Legislation and regulations that set strict air standards
• Facility Certificates of Approval to ensure companies operate within their limits
• Inspections and investigations of companies that are out of compliance
• Educating and informing the public about ways to reduce air pollution and protect themselves from the effects of poor air quality.

Current Air Issues and Initiatives

• Smog
• Climate Change
• Transboundary Air Pollution
• Ozone Depleting Substances
• Ethanol in Gasoline
• Air Quality Ontario
• Drive Clean
• The Ministry of the Environment's Role in Air Quality
• Environmental Compliance Reports
• Sector Compliance Branch

Frequently Asked Questions

What is air pollution, and where does it come from?
Air pollution comes from the emissions from industry, transportation, electricity generation and home heating. About half of the air pollution in Ontario comes from the U.S. due to air flows.  While a lot of air pollution is invisible, some kinds can be seen by the naked eye as the smoke emitted from smoke stacks.

What is climate change and global warming?
Global warming is caused by the dramatic increase in greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas has led to increased amounts of greenhouse gases, causing the earth to heat up at an accelerated rate. Once this global warming affects our weather patterns, it is referred to as climate change.

What is smog?
Smog is a form of air pollution. It is a complex mixture of air pollutants that is sometimes visible in the air as a brownish-yellow haze over cities.  Smog can be caused by a buildup of either ground-level ozone (O3) or tiny particles of soot known as particulate matter (PM).  Smog can form in almost any climate where industries or cities release large amounts of air pollution. However, it is worse during periods of warmer, sunnier weather.

What is the MOE doing to reduce air pollution?
Ontario has introduced new or updated standards for over 50 harmful pollutants over the past five years.  Ontario also has a plan in place to significantly reduce emissions or smog-causing pollutants from large industries by the year 2015. 
The Drive Clean program also ensures that all cars on the road in Ontario past strict emission controls. For more information click here (http://www.driveclean.com/)

What can I do to reduce global warming and air pollution?
There are two key actions to reduce the impact of global warming.  The first is to cut emissions of greenhouse gases by burning less fossil fuels such as oil and gas.  The other is to find ways to capture the greenhouse gases that are already in our atmosphere; individuals can do this by planting trees.

Where can I get more information?
www.ontario.ca/environment
www.gogreenontario.ca