Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2022: annex 2.8

A2.8 Estimation methodologies for Paints and Solvents by sector

Dry Cleaning, General Solvent Use, Printing and Surface Coatings

Description

Dry Cleaning includes emissions from companies that provide dry cleaning of fabric and leather items.

General Solvent Use consists of emissions from a broad range of applications occurring in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional settings. Industrial applications include uses such as degreasing, adhesives and sealants, aerosols, blowing agents and resin manufacturing. The use of consumer and commercial products, pesticides and personal care products is also included under General Solvent Use.

Printing covers emissions from the manufacturing or use of printing inks. The sector consists of flexographic, gravure, letterpress, lithographic and other types of printing.

Surface Coatings encompasses emissions from a broad range of applications and industries, including individuals and companies engaged in the manufacturing or use of paints and coatings.

General inventory method

Pollutant(s) estimated:
VOCs

The analysis methodology used is largely a “top-down” national mass balance approach that involves gathering statistical activity data on the production, distribution, end-use patterns and disposal of VOC-containing products and then building relationships between stages. More detailed data on solvent quantities and practices are collected from a subset of solvent and formulated product users, producers and distributors in Canada.

Activity data

Solvent use quantities (1990 to 2004): Cheminfo Services (2007)

Solvent use quantities (2005 to 2014): Cheminfo Services (2016)

Solvent use quantities (2015 to 2019): Cheminfo Services (2019)

Domestic consumption is determined using a national mass balance approach. Information on production, trade and inventory changes is obtained from various literature sources, Statistics Canada and interviews with a subset of solvent producers and distributors.

Projected estimates of national total solvent use for the year 2019 were developed based on historical base year national total solvent use and macroeconomic growth and solvent growth ratios (Cheminfo Services, 2019).

Macroeconomic growth data (GDP by NAICS): Statistics Canada (n.d.)

Emission factors (EF)

The estimated use of emission control technologies is applied in each solvent application area. More specifically, emissions are calculated by taking the estimated quantity of solvent used in an application area and multiplying it by the estimated percentage of uncontrolled VOCs or:

E_VOCs = Quantity_solventused × (100% – % VOC_Controlled)

where E_VOCs is the emission estimate of VOCs.

If there is no estimate for use of control technologies, 100% of the solvent VOCs is assumed to evaporate. Only a small portion of the estimated VOC emissions is reduced by the application of control technologies. Control efficiencies are applied (as percentages) to the following: flexographic, rotogravure and lithographic printing, aircraft coatings, automotive original equipment manufacture (OEM) coatings, metal can manufacturing, metal coil coating, metal furniture manufacturing, adhesives and sealants, and resin manufacturing (Cheminfo Services, 2019).

References, Annex 2.8, Estimation methodologies for Paints and Solvents by sector

Cheminfo Services. 2007. Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from the use of solvents in Canada – Inventory improvement and trends compilation - Task #2: VOC emission trends compilation 1985 to 2005. Unpublished report. Markham (ON): Cheminfo. Prepared for Environment Canada.

Cheminfo Services. 2016. Compilation of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from the use of solvents in Canada: Inventory update. VOC emission trends compilation: 2005 to 2017. Final report. Unpublished report. Markham (ON): Cheminfo. Prepared for Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Cheminfo Services. 2019. Update Solvents Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions from 2015 to 2018. Unpublished report. Markham (ON): Cheminfo. Prepared for Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Statistics Canada. No date. Table 36-10-0434-01 (formerly CANSIM 379-0031) Gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices, by industry, monthly (x 1,000,000)  (database) [last updated 2021 November 30].