Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2022: chapter 2.1
2.1 Particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 microns in diameter
In 2020, approximately 1.4 million tonnes (Mt) of particulate matter less or equal to 2.5 microns in diameters (PM2.5) were emitted in Canada (Table 2–3). Dust sources accounted for 62% (881 kt) of total PM2.5 emissions, with the most important dust sources being Construction Operations at 35% (507 kt) and Unpaved Roads at 25% (353 kt) of total PM2.5 emissions. Agriculture was the second-largest contributor and accounted for 24% (349 kt) of PM2.5 emissions, almost all of which are attributed to Crop Production (24% or 347 kt). In these sectors, PM is largely emitted by non-combustion sources.
Commercial/Residential/Institutional sources accounted for 7.0% (100 kt) of total PM2.5 emissions in 2020, with the most important contributor being Home Firewood Burning at 5.6% (80 kt) of total PM2.5 emissions. All other Commercial/Residential/Institutional sources accounted for less than 1.5% of total PM2.5 emissions.
Overall, emissions of PM2.5 decreased from 1990 to 2009, gradually increased from 2009 to 2019, and have decreased between 2019 to 2020 (Figure 2–1). The downward trend between 1990 to 2009 was influenced predominantly by decreasing emissions from Crop Production and Home Firewood Burning. Emissions from Crop Production decreased for the period from 1990 to 2011 owing to a reduction in summer fallow and the adoption of conservation tillage practices, and were offset by an increase in wind erosion emissions resulting from increased production of pulse crops until 2016 when the proportion of pulse crops began to decrease relative to other less emission intensive crops. Decreased emissions from Home Firewood Burning are due to the reduction in the use of conventional fireplaces and wood stoves, which have been replaced with fireplace inserts, furnaces and stoves with improved emission controls and combustion efficiencies. Emissions of dust from Construction Operations decreased until 2002, increased until 2012 and have since stabilized. Emissions of PM2.5 from Unpaved Roads followed a more gradual, consistent increasing trend from 1990 through to 2019, but experienced a decrease of 58 kt (14%) between 2019 and 2020. This emission reduction is linked to a decrease in the vehicle kilometres traveled (VKT) between the years 2019 and 2020. The trend in PM2.5 emissions from roads is driven predominantly by the use of unpaved roads in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
The most significant changes in PM2.5 emissions from 1990 to 2020 include:
- Dust: increase of 79% (388 kt), of which:
- Construction operations: increase of 112% (268 kt)
- Paved and unpaved roads: increase of 47% (119 kt total)
- Agriculture: decrease of 48% (325 kt), of which:
- Crop production: decrease of 48% (326 kt)
- Commercial/residential/institutional: decrease of 37% (58 kt), with:
- Home firewood burning: decrease of 43% (60 kt)
Figure 2–1: Trends in Canadian PM2.5 emissions (1990 to 2020)

Long description for Figure 2–1
Figure 2–1 is a stacked area graph displaying the five major contributors to national PM2.5 trends. They are the following: Construction Operations, Paved and Unpaved Roads, Crop Production, Other, and Home Firewood Burning. The figure shows that Construction Operations have the biggest share in the total national PM2.5 emissions in 2020. The following table displays the contributions (kt) for the years 1990 to 2020.
Sector | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Construction Operations | 239 | 230 | 219 | 197 | 241 | 190 | 232 | 287 | 148 | 167 | 148 | 151 | 128 | 142 | 153 | 170 | 223 | 295 | 376 | 274 | 365 | 413 | 507 | 506 | 506 | 507 | 506 | 507 | 507 | 507 | 507 |
Crop Production | 672 | 665 | 650 | 636 | 622 | 608 | 594 | 580 | 567 | 553 | 540 | 526 | 507 | 487 | 467 | 448 | 428 | 415 | 401 | 388 | 375 | 362 | 365 | 368 | 371 | 374 | 377 | 368 | 360 | 352 | 347 |
Paved and Unpaved Roads | 254 | 240 | 248 | 251 | 265 | 277 | 277 | 294 | 301 | 315 | 312 | 337 | 334 | 337 | 332 | 332 | 334 | 348 | 348 | 361 | 365 | 372 | 389 | 404 | 390 | 408 | 411 | 419 | 429 | 434 | 373 |
Home Firewood Burning | 140 | 140 | 146 | 146 | 141 | 136 | 138 | 135 | 108 | 103 | 104 | 89 | 85 | 79 | 83 | 84 | 82 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 83 | 88 | 83 | 89 | 89 | 85 | 79 | 77 | 85 | 87 | 80 |
Other | 377 | 356 | 332 | 345 | 342 | 344 | 322 | 304 | 294 | 290 | 283 | 254 | 226 | 237 | 213 | 210 | 184 | 178 | 174 | 161 | 159 | 151 | 148 | 139 | 145 | 136 | 128 | 131 | 130 | 129 | 126 |
Table 2-3: National summary of annual PM2.5 emissions
Notes:
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
0.00 Indicates emissions were truncated due to rounding.
- Indicates no emissions
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sub-total | 53 000 | 50 000 | 41 000 | 31 000 | 31 000 | 35 000 | 34 000 | 34 000 | 34 000 |
Aluminium Industry | 5 400 | 4 500 | 5 100 | 3 300 | 3 400 | 3 400 | 3 100 | 3 100 | 3 400 |
Asphalt Paving Industry | 1 700 | 1 500 | 1 300 | 1 200 | 1 200 | 1 300 | 1 200 | 1 300 | 1 200 |
Cement and Concrete Industry | 11 000 | 9 700 | 12 000 | 7 900 | 7 200 | 8 000 | 8 000 | 7 800 | 7 100 |
Foundries | 4 500 | 4 100 | 4 400 | 4 100 | 4 100 | 4 200 | 4 200 | 4 100 | 3 800 |
Iron and Steel Industry | 11 000 | 9 400 | 5 100 | 2 400 | 2 200 | 2 500 | 2 600 | 2 700 | 2 200 |
Iron Ore Pelletizing | 650 | 3 900 | 1 200 | 830 | 900 | 790 | 690 | 790 | 680 |
Mineral Products Industry | 1 300 | 1 100 | 950 | 320 | 290 | 230 | 290 | 230 | 230 |
Mining and Rock Quarrying | 9 300 | 10 000 | 7 000 | 8 500 | 10 000 | 13 000 | 13 000 | 13 000 | 15 000 |
Non-Ferrous Mining and Smelting Industry | 8 600 | 5 600 | 4 100 | 2 100 | 1 700 | 1 300 | 1 000 | 650 | 570 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sub-total | 12 000 | 14 000 | 13 000 | 1 2000 | 11 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 |
Downstream Oil and Gas Industry | 5 100 | 4 900 | 4 600 | 1 400 | 1 500 | 1 500 | 1 600 | 1 500 | 1 500 |
Upstream Oil and Gas Industry | 7 100 | 9 000 | 8 000 | 11 000 | 9 600 | 11 000 | 11 000 | 11 000 | 11 000 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sub-total | 48 000 | 23 000 | 8 900 | 3 500 | 3 400 | 3 300 | 3 200 | 2 800 | 2 400 |
Coal | 46 000 | 20 000 | 5 000 | 2 400 | 2 200 | 2 200 | 2 200 | 1 800 | 1 500 |
Diesel | 270 | 410 | 400 | 210 | 220 | 180 | 190 | 190 | 170 |
Natural Gas | 1 200 | 1 900 | 1 700 | 420 | 390 | 340 | 350 | 290 | 300 |
Waste Materials | 0.41 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 2.1 |
Other (Electric Power Generation) | 1 300 | 730 | 1 800 | 460 | 550 | 530 | 460 | 470 | 430 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sub-total | 110 000 | 76 000 | 45 000 | 19 000 | 17 000 | 17 000 | 17 000 | 16 000 | 16 000 |
Abrasives Manufacturing | 390 | 210 | 200 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 8.3 |
Bakeries | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.43 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 6.7 | 10 | 12 | 11 |
Biofuel Production | - | - | - | 4.6 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 1.5 |
Chemicals Industry | 4 800 | 4 500 | 4 100 | 1 300 | 1 300 | 1 200 | 1 500 | 1 400 | 1 300 |
Electronics | 120 | 39 | 5.7 | 0.91 | 0.89 | 0.88 | 0.82 | 0.54 | 0.57 |
Food Preparation | 1 400 | 2 100 | 1 700 | 740 | 720 | 720 | 660 | 670 | 680 |
Glass Manufacturing | 920 | 1 300 | 1 100 | 150 | 160 | 130 | 140 | 160 | 160 |
Grain Industry | 2 200 | 2 900 | 2 000 | 3 300 | 3 400 | 3 500 | 3 500 | 2 600 | 3 000 |
Metal Fabrication | 780 | 1 200 | 890 | 400 | 410 | 440 | 400 | 430 | 400 |
Plastics Manufacturing | 150 | 170 | 120 | 53 | 57 | 56 | 61 | 61 | 68 |
Pulp and Paper Industry | 61 000 | 25 000 | 18 000 | 7 600 | 6 900 | 7 200 | 6 800 | 6 300 | 6 100 |
Textiles | 16 | 23 | 18 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.99 | 0.34 |
Vehicle Manufacturing (Engines, Parts, Assembly, Painting) | 1 600 | 1 500 | 560 | 180 | 170 | 170 | 200 | 190 | 140 |
Wood Products | 35 000 | 28 000 | 14 000 | 4 700 | 3 800 | 3 600 | 3 800 | 4 300 | 4 300 |
Other (Manufacturing) | 6 300 | 8 900 | 3 000 | 190 | 210 | 210 | 200 | 260 | 220 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sub-total | 88 000 | 86 000 | 69 000 | 35 000 | 31 000 | 33 000 | 34 000 | 34 000 | 31 000 |
Air Transportation (LTO) | 430 | 350 | 320 | 280 | 270 | 280 | 300 | 290 | 190 |
Domestic Marine Navigation, Fishing and Military | 3 800 | 4 600 | 5 200 | 1 400 | 1 400 | 1 500 | 1 500 | 1 600 | 1 400 |
Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles | 15 000 | 15 000 | 17 000 | 8 600 | 8 400 | 8 800 | 9 300 | 9 200 | 8 600 |
Heavy-Duty Gasoline Vehicles | 3 500 | 2 300 | 2 100 | 920 | 980 | 990 | 1 000 | 1 000 | 930 |
Heavy-Duty LPG/NG Vehicles | 600 | 680 | 160 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 3.5 |
Light-Duty Diesel Trucks | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 |
Light-Duty Diesel Vehicles | 49 | 26 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 8.8 |
Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks | 2 000 | 2 400 | 1 600 | 1 200 | 1 300 | 1 300 | 1 400 | 1 400 | 1 300 |
Light-Duty Gasoline Vehicles | 5 000 | 3 600 | 2 200 | 1 100 | 1 100 | 1 100 | 1 100 | 1 100 | 870 |
Light-Duty LPG/NG Trucks | 180 | 83 | 36 | 0.41 | 0.44 | 0.52 | 0.53 | 0.51 | 0.31 |
Light-Duty LPG/NG Vehicles | 23 | 12 | 5.3 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Motorcycles | 22 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 18 |
Off-Road Diesel Vehicles and Equipment | 41 000 | 42 000 | 29 000 | 13 000 | 10 000 | 11 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 11 000 |
Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment | 13 000 | 10 000 | 6 800 | 4 200 | 3 700 | 3 800 | 3 900 | 3 800 | 3 600 |
Rail Transportation | 3 600 | 3 400 | 3 300 | 2 000 | 1 800 | 1 900 | 2 000 | 2 000 | 1 900 |
Tire Wear and Brake Lining | 730 | 1 100 | 1 200 | 1 500 | 1 500 | 1 600 | 1 600 | 1 600 | 1 400 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sub-total | 670 000 | 540 000 | 450 000 | 380 000 | 380 000 | 370 000 | 360 000 | 350 000 | 350 000 |
Animal Production | 1 700 | 2 100 | 2 300 | 2 000 | 2 100 | 2 100 | 2 100 | 2 100 | 2 000 |
Crop Production | 670 000 | 540 000 | 450 000 | 370 000 | 380 000 | 370 000 | 360 000 | 350 000 | 350 000 |
Agricultural Fuel Combustion | 120 | 140 | 130 | 290 | 290 | 280 | 260 | 260 | 220 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sub-total | 160 000 | 120 000 | 110 000 | 100 000 | 99 000 | 98 000 | 110 000 | 110 000 | 100 000 |
Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion | 2 000 | 2 600 | 2 600 | 2 300 | 2 400 | 2 600 | 2 700 | 2 900 | 2 800 |
Commercial Cooking | 14 000 | 15 000 | 17 000 | 15 000 | 15 000 | 15 000 | 15 000 | 15 000 | 16 000 |
Construction Fuel Combustion | 180 | 110 | 150 | 130 | 140 | 140 | 140 | 150 | 150 |
Home Firewood Burning | 140 000 | 100 000 | 84 000 | 85 000 | 79 000 | 77 000 | 85 000 | 87 000 | 80 000 |
Human | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Marine Cargo Handling | 190 | 140 | 110 | 68 | 85 | 87 | 81 | 76 | 48 |
Residential Fuel Combustion | 2 400 | 2 600 | 2 500 | 2 300 | 2 100 | 2 300 | 2 500 | 2 300 | 2 200 |
Service Stations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Other (Miscellaneous) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sub-total | 3 100 | 3 200 | 3 300 | 2 600 | 2 600 | 2 600 | 2 700 | 2 700 | 2 700 |
Crematoriums | 2.3 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.8 |
Waste Incineration | 2 400 | 2 500 | 2 700 | 2 100 | 2 100 | 2 200 | 2 200 | 2 200 | 2 200 |
Waste Treatment and Disposal | 660 | 670 | 640 | 470 | 450 | 460 | 480 | 510 | 510 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sub-total | 3.7 | 7.1 | 25 | 15 | 16 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 21 |
Dry Cleaning | 0.32 | 0.32 | 1.2 | 6.1 | 4.5 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
General Solvent Use | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Printing | 3.0 | 6.4 | 23 | 8.2 | 9.8 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 8.2 | 4.4 |
Surface Coatings | 0.37 | 0.37 | 0.94 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 4.9 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sub-total | 490 000 | 460 000 | 500 000 | 920 000 | 920 000 | 930 000 | 940 000 | 940 000 | 880 000 |
Coal Transportation | 320 | 300 | 240 | 230 | 250 | 220 | 220 | 230 | 200 |
Construction Operations | 240 000 | 150 000 | 170 000 | 510 000 | 510 000 | 510 000 | 510 000 | 510 000 | 510 000 |
Mine Tailings | 270 | 300 | 320 | 620 | 580 | 660 | 690 | 710 | 720 |
Paved Roads | 24 000 | 19 000 | 19 000 | 22 000 | 22 000 | 22 000 | 22 000 | 23 000 | 20 000 |
Unpaved Roads | 230 000 | 290 000 | 310 000 | 390 000 | 390 000 | 400 000 | 410 000 | 410 000 | 350 000 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sub-total | 36 000 | 6 900 | 4 500 | 10 000 | 9 100 | 4 800 | 2 900 | 3 200 | 2 500 |
Prescribed Burning | 36 000 | 6 600 | 4 200 | 10 000 | 8 900 | 4 600 | 2 700 | 3 000 | 2 300 |
Structural Fires | 350 | 280 | 260 | 190 | 190 | 190 | 200 | 190 | 220 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ore and Mineral Industry | 53 000 | 50 000 | 41 000 | 31 000 | 31 000 | 35 000 | 34 000 | 34 000 | 34 000 |
Oil and Gas Industry | 12 000 | 14 000 | 13 000 | 1 2000 | 11 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 |
Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | 48 000 | 23 000 | 8 900 | 3 500 | 3 400 | 3 300 | 3 200 | 2 800 | 2 400 |
Manufacturing | 110 000 | 76 000 | 45 000 | 19 000 | 17 000 | 17 000 | 17 000 | 16 000 | 16 000 |
Transportation and Mobile Equipment | 88 000 | 86 000 | 69 000 | 35 000 | 31 000 | 33 000 | 34 000 | 34 000 | 31 000 |
Agriculture | 670 000 | 540 000 | 450 000 | 380 000 | 380 000 | 370 000 | 360 000 | 350 000 | 350 000 |
Commercial/Residential/Institutional | 160 000 | 120 000 | 110 000 | 100 000 | 99 000 | 98 000 | 110 000 | 110 000 | 100 000 |
Incineration and Waste | 3 100 | 3 200 | 3 300 | 2 600 | 2 600 | 2 600 | 2 700 | 2 700 | 2 700 |
Paints and Solvents | 3.7 | 7.1 | 25 | 15 | 16 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 21 |
Dust | 490 000 | 460 000 | 500 000 | 920 000 | 920 000 | 930 000 | 940 000 | 940 000 | 880 000 |
Fires | 36 000 | 6 900 | 4 500 | 10 000 | 9 100 | 4 800 | 2 900 | 3 200 | 2 500 |
Grand Total | 1 700 000 | 1 400 000 | 1 200 000 | 1 500 000 | 1 500 000 | 1 500 000 | 1 500 000 | 1 500 000 | 1 400 000 |
Note:
Refer to Annex 4.4 for more information on international marine navigation and air transportation reporting emissions.
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Domestic Air Transportation (Cruise) | 370 | 480 | 330 | 280 | 280 | 300 | 320 | 330 | 180 |
International Air Transportation (Cruise) | 520 | 580 | 570 | 480 | 500 | 540 | 620 | 640 | 290 |
International Marine Navigation | 6 000 | 8 700 | 10 000 | 2 300 | 2 300 | 2 300 | 2 300 | 2 300 | 1 900 |
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