Toxic air pollutants

Many pollutants that contribute, or may contribute, to air quality issues have been formally assessed and determined to be toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) and are listed in Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999 Schedule 1.

For more information about CEPA 1999, visit the Canadian Environmental Protection Act Registry, and for risk management information on some pollutants that contribute or may contribute to air quality issues visit the Management of Toxic Substances Website.

Air related toxics listed within CEPA 1999 schedule 1, include:

• Chlorobiphenyls that have the molecular formula C₁₂H_(10-n) Cl_n in which "n" is greater than 2
• Dodecachloropentacyclo [5.3.0.02,6.03,9.04,8] decane (Mirex)
• Chlorofluorocarbon: totally halogenated chlorofluorocarbons that have the molecular formula C_nC1_xF_(2n+2-x)
• Asbestos
• Lead
• Mercury
• Vinyl Chloride
• Bromochlorodifluoromethane that has the molecular formula CF₂BrCl
• Bromotrifluoromethane that has the molecular formula CF₃ Br
• Dibromotetrafluoroethane that has the molecular formula C₂F₄Br₂
• Fuel containing toxic substances that are dangerous goods within the meaning of section 2 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992 and that are neither normal components of the fuel nor additives designed to improve the characteristics or the performance of the fuel; or are normal components of the fuel or additives designed to improve the characteristics or performance of the fuels, but are present in quantities or concentrations greater than those generally accepted by industry standards
• Dibenzo-para-dioxin that has the molecular formula of C₁₂H₈O₂
• Dibenzofuran that has the molecular formula C₁₂H₈O
• Polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins that have the molecular formula C₁₂H_(8-n)O₂Cl_n in which "n" is greater than 2
• Polychlorinated dibenzofurans that have the molecular formula C₁₂H_(8-n)OCl_n in which "n" is greater than 2
• Tetrachloromethane (carbon tetrachloride) CCl₄
• 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methyl chloroform) CCl₃-CH₃
• Bromofluorocarbons other than those set out in items 10 to 12
• Hydrobromofluorocarbons that have the molecular formula C_nH_xF_yBr_(2n+2-x-y) in which 0<n<3
• Methyl Bromide
• Bis(Chloromethyl) ether that has the molecular formula C₂H₄Cl₂O
• Chloromethyl methyl ether that has the molecular formula C₂H₅ClO
• Hydrochlorofluorocarbons that have the molecular formula C_nH_xF_yCl_(2n+2-x-y) in which 0<n<3
• Benzene that has the molecular formula C₆H₆
• Inorganic arsenic compounds
• Inorganic cadmium compounds
• Hexavalent chromium compounds
• 1,2-Dichloroethane
• Dichloromethane
• Hexachlorobenzene
• Inorganic fluorides
• Oxidic, sulphidic and soluble inorganic nickel compounds
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• Tetrachloroethylene
• Trichloroethylene
• Bromochloromethane, that has the molecular formula CH₂ BrCl
• Acetaldehyde, which has the molecular formula C₂H₄O
• 1,3-Butadiene, which has the molecular formula C₄H₆
• Acrylonitrile, which has the molecular formula C₃H₃N
• Respirable particulate matter less than or equal to 10 microns
• Acrolein, which has the molecular formula C₃H₄O
• Ethylene oxide, which has the molecular formula H₂COCH₂
• Formaldehyde, which has the molecular formula CH₂O
• N-Nitrosodimethylamine, which has the molecular formula C₂H₆N₂O
• Gaseous Ammonia, which has the molecular formula NH₃(g)
• Ozone, which has the molecular formula O₃
• Nitric oxide, which has the molecular formula NO
• Nitrogen dioxide, which has the molecular formula NO₂
• Sulphur dioxide, which has the molecular formula SO₂
• Volatile organic compounds that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions,
• Hexachlorobutadiene, which has the molecular formula C₄Cl₆
• Particulate matter containing metals that is released in emissions from copper smelters or refineries, or from both
• Particulate matter containing metals that is released in emissions from zinc plants