Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2024: chapter 2.1
2.1 Particulate Matter Less than or Equal to 2.5 Microns in Diameter
In 2022, approximately 1.3 megatonnes (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 58% (749 kt) of total PM2.5 emissions, with the most important dust sources being Unpaved Roads at 31% (401 kt) and Construction Operations at 25% (325 kt) of total PM2.5 emissions. Agriculture was the second-largest contributor and accounted for 27% (353 kt) of PM2.5 emissions, almost all of which are attributed to Crop Production (27% or 351 kt). In these sectors, PM is largely emitted by non-combustion sources.
Commercial/Residential/Institutional sources accounted for 7.8% (101 kt) of total PM2.5 emissions in 2022, with the most important contributor being Home Firewood Burning at 6.2% (80 kt) of total PM2.5 emissions. All other Commercial/Residential/Institutional sources accounted for about 1.6% of total PM2.5 emissions.
Overall, emissions of PM2.5 decreased from 1990 to 2009, gradually increased from 2009 to 2019, decreased significantly between 2019 to 2020, and remained stable between 2020 and 2022 (Figure 2–1). Emissions in 2022 were 22% below 1990 levels. The downward trend between 1990 to 2009 was influenced predominantly by decreasing emissions from Crop Production. 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; these 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. To a lesser extent, the 1990 to 2009 PM2.5 emissions decrease was also influenced by decreased emissions from Home Firewood Burning. This decrease is 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.
Dust PM2.5 emissions from Construction Operations generally increased from 1990 to 2014, at an average rate of 4.3% per year over that period. There was a temporary dip in 1991 and there was a notable “spike” in emissions between 2009 and 2014, followed by a sharp drop in 2015 and 2016. The trend in Construction Operations dust was less consistent, though generally decreasing, from 2015 onward.
Road Dust PM2.5 emissions generally increased from 1990 to 2019, on average by 2.3% per year over that period, with a temporary dip in 1991, similar to that seen in the Construction Operation dust emissions. Emission dropped sharply in 2020 (by 14% compared to 2019), coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, but have since returned to an increasing trend (5.5% and 5.8% per year), although emissions remain below the 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Trends in Road Dust emissions are most strongly driven by the unpaved roads, which make up most emissions from this sector. Generally, emission trends are linked with changes in VKT, though other factors such as climate (rain, snow and soil moisture) contribute to variations in the trend.
Excluding sources from road dust, construction operations and crop production, PM2.5 emissions in 2022 were 30% lower compared with 2005 levels. For example, a Transportation and Mobile Equipment decrease occurred, primarily due to implemented regulations that have effectively lowered PM emission rates from diesel engines.
The most significant changes in PM2.5 emissions from 1990 to 2022 include:
- Dust: increase of 52% (256 kt), with:
- Construction Operations: increase of 44% (99 kt)
- Paved and Unpaved Roads: increase of 59% (156 kt)
- Agriculture: decrease of 48% (322 kt), with:
- Crop Production: decrease of 48% (323 kt)
- Commercial/Residential/Institutional: decrease of 36% (58 kt), with:
- Home Firewood Burning: decrease of 43% (60 kt)
The most significant changes in PM2.5 emissions from 2005 to 2022 include:
- Dust: increase of 16% (104 kt), with:
- Construction Operations: increase of 0.55% (1.8 kt)
- Paved and Unpaved Roads: increase of 32% (102 kt)
- Agriculture: decrease of 21% (97 kt), with:
- Crop Production: decrease of 22% (96 kt)
- Transportation and Mobile Equipment: decrease of 63% (41 kt), with:
- Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles: decrease of 82% (16 kt)
- Off-Road Diesel Vehicles and Equipment: decrease of 59% (14 kt)
Figure 2–1: Trends in Canadian PM2.5 Emissions (1990 to 2022)

Long description for Figure 2-1
Figure 2–1 is a stacked area graph displaying the five major contributors to national particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) trends. They are the following: Home Firewood Burning, Other, Construction Operations, Crop Production and Paved and Unpaved Roads. The figure shows that Paved and Unpaved Roads have the biggest share in the total national PM2.5 emissions in 2022. The following table displays the contributions (kt) for the years 1990 to 2022.
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 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paved and Unpaved Roads | 267 | 258 | 274 | 284 | 301 | 307 | 305 | 315 | 313 | 317 | 310 | 325 | 323 | 329 | 326 | 322 | 327 | 345 | 346 | 360 | 358 | 356 | 371 | 384 | 373 | 387 | 393 | 410 | 429 | 442 | 379 | 401 | 423 |
Crop Production | 673 | 666 | 651 | 637 | 622 | 608 | 594 | 580 | 567 | 553 | 540 | 526 | 507 | 487 | 467 | 447 | 428 | 414 | 401 | 387 | 374 | 361 | 364 | 367 | 370 | 373 | 376 | 372 | 368 | 363 | 359 | 343 | 351 |
Construction Operations | 226 | 218 | 194 | 195 | 215 | 221 | 227 | 255 | 262 | 265 | 276 | 291 | 276 | 276 | 290 | 323 | 306 | 318 | 356 | 323 | 374 | 400 | 429 | 447 | 466 | 411 | 355 | 358 | 378 | 396 | 363 | 356 | 325 |
Other | 357 | 336 | 312 | 322 | 318 | 318 | 299 | 281 | 273 | 272 | 266 | 243 | 217 | 228 | 204 | 204 | 178 | 170 | 166 | 152 | 150 | 147 | 145 | 136 | 141 | 133 | 127 | 128 | 125 | 123 | 119 | 125 | 120 |
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 | 86 | 79 | 75 | 80 |
Table 2-3: National Summary of Annual PM2.5 Emissions
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 54 000 | 51 000 | 41 000 | 34 000 | 33 000 | 35 000 | 35 000 | 37 000 | 34 000 |
Aluminium Industry | 5 400 | 4 600 | 5 200 | 3 400 | 3 200 | 3 200 | 3 500 | 3 700 | 3 600 |
Asphalt Paving Industry | 1 300 | 1 200 | 1 000 | 650 | 620 | 610 | 600 | 690 | 570 |
Cement and Concrete Industry | 11 000 | 9 700 | 12 000 | 8 000 | 8 000 | 7 800 | 7 200 | 8 400 | 7 900 |
Foundries | 4 600 | 4 300 | 4 500 | 4 200 | 4 200 | 4 000 | 3 700 | 4 000 | 4 000 |
Iron and Steel Industry | 11 000 | 9 800 | 5 200 | 2 500 | 2 700 | 2 700 | 2 100 | 2 300 | 2 400 |
Iron Ore Pelletizing | 650 | 3 900 | 1 200 | 790 | 690 | 790 | 680 | 630 | 620 |
Mineral Products Industry | 1 300 | 1 200 | 960 | 230 | 290 | 230 | 230 | 280 | 300 |
Mining and Rock Quarrying | 10 000 | 11 000 | 7 400 | 13 000 | 13 000 | 15 000 | 17 000 | 16 000 | 14 000 |
Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry | 8 600 | 5 600 | 4 100 | 1 300 | 1 000 | 640 | 560 | 520 | 550 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 12 000 | 13 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 14 000 | 14 000 |
Downstream Oil and Gas Industry | 5 100 | 4 900 | 4 600 | 1 500 | 1 600 | 1 500 | 1 500 | 1 300 | 1 400 |
Upstream Oil and Gas Industry | 6 700 | 8 600 | 7 700 | 10 000 | 10 000 | 10 000 | 11 000 | 13 000 | 13 000 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 49 000 | 23 000 | 9 100 | 3 300 | 3 200 | 2 800 | 2 400 | 2 000 | 2 100 |
Coal | 46 000 | 20 000 | 5 000 | 2 200 | 2 200 | 1 800 | 1 500 | 1 200 | 1 200 |
Diesel | 1 300 | 2 100 | 1 900 | 340 | 350 | 300 | 300 | 320 | 420 |
Landfill Gas | 280 | 410 | 400 | 180 | 200 | 200 | 180 | 140 | 140 |
Natural Gas | 0.41 | 1.6 | 5.3 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 9.5 | 7.0 | 7.1 |
Other (Electric Power Generation) | 1 300 | 720 | 1 800 | 510 | 440 | 450 | 410 | 320 | 340 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 110 000 | 75 000 | 45 000 | 17 000 | 17 000 | 16 000 | 16 000 | 20 000 | 15 000 |
Abrasives Manufacturing | 390 | 210 | 200 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
Bakeries | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.43 | 6.7 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 9.7 | 9.4 |
Biofuel Production | — | — | — | 6.1 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.78 | 0.67 |
Chemicals Industry | 4 800 | 4 500 | 4 100 | 1 200 | 1 500 | 1 400 | 1 300 | 1 300 | 1 200 |
Electronics | 130 | 39 | 5.7 | 0.87 | 0.82 | 0.54 | 0.57 | 0.54 | 0.51 |
Food Preparation | 1 400 | 2 100 | 1 700 | 720 | 660 | 660 | 680 | 680 | 740 |
Glass Manufacturing | 920 | 1 300 | 1 100 | 130 | 140 | 160 | 160 | 190 | 180 |
Grain Industry | 2 200 | 2 900 | 2 000 | 3 500 | 3 500 | 2 600 | 3 000 | 4 000 | 2 700 |
Metal Fabrication | 170 | 270 | 360 | 280 | 250 | 260 | 250 | 270 | 270 |
Plastics Manufacturing | 150 | 170 | 120 | 56 | 61 | 76 | 87 | 86 | 65 |
Pulp and Paper Industry | 61 000 | 25 000 | 18 000 | 7 200 | 6 800 | 6 300 | 6 100 | 5 400 | 4 800 |
Textiles | 16 | 23 | 18 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.99 | 0.34 | — | — |
Vehicle Manufacturing (Engines, Parts, Assembly, Painting) | 1 700 | 1 600 | 650 | 210 | 240 | 230 | 170 | 190 | 210 |
Wood Products | 35 000 | 28 000 | 14 000 | 3 700 | 3 800 | 4 300 | 4 300 | 7 300 | 4 300 |
Other (Manufacturing) | 6 300 | 8 900 | 3 000 | 210 | 200 | 260 | 240 | 280 | 270 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 69 000 | 71 000 | 65 000 | 33 000 | 32 000 | 30 000 | 26 000 | 25 000 | 24 000 |
Air Transportation (LTO) | 430 | 350 | 320 | 280 | 300 | 290 | 180 | 210 | 240 |
Domestic Marine Navigation, Fishing and Military | 4 200 | 5 100 | 5 800 | 1 200 | 1 100 | 1 100 | 1 000 | 1 200 | 1 300 |
Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles | 19 000 | 18 000 | 19 000 | 5 200 | 4 900 | 4 300 | 3 800 | 3 800 | 3 400 |
Heavy-Duty Gasoline Vehicles | 760 | 510 | 370 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 130 | 130 | 110 |
Heavy-Duty LPG/NG Vehicles | 170 | 8.4 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.1 |
Light-Duty Diesel Trucks | 42 | 39 | 31 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.7 | 9.4 |
Light-Duty Diesel Vehicles | 36 | 19 | 15 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.1 |
Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks | 1 400 | 1 400 | 1 100 | 670 | 740 | 810 | 730 | 790 | 800 |
Light-Duty Gasoline Vehicles | 2 900 | 1 900 | 1 200 | 400 | 420 | 420 | 340 | 340 | 320 |
Light-Duty LPG/NG Trucks | 3.9 | 0.27 | 0.16 | 0.11 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.066 | 0.057 | 0.054 |
Light-Duty LPG/NG Vehicles | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Motorcycles | 21 | 22 | 25 | 45 | 47 | 49 | 40 | 40 | 37 |
Off-Road Diesel Vehicles and Equipment | 32 000 | 30 000 | 23 000 | 15 000 | 15 000 | 13 000 | 11 000 | 11 000 | 9 800 |
Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment | 3 500 | 9 300 | 9 300 | 6 300 | 6 100 | 6 000 | 5 600 | 5 800 | 5 500 |
Rail Transportation | 3 600 | 3 400 | 3 300 | 1 800 | 2 000 | 1 800 | 1 600 | 1 500 | 1 500 |
Tire Wear and Brake Lining | 720 | 940 | 1 000 | 1 200 | 1 300 | 1 300 | 1 100 | 1 200 | 1 200 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 680 000 | 540 000 | 450 000 | 370 000 | 370 000 | 370 000 | 360 000 | 340 000 | 350 000 |
Agricultural Fuel Combustion | 120 | 140 | 130 | 280 | 260 | 260 | 230 | 230 | 240 |
Animal Production | 1 700 | 2 100 | 2 300 | 2 100 | 2 100 | 2 100 | 2 100 | 2 100 | 2 000 |
Crop Production | 670 000 | 540 000 | 450 000 | 370 000 | 370 000 | 360 000 | 360 000 | 340 000 | 350 000 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 160 000 | 120 000 | 110 000 | 98 000 | 110 000 | 110 000 | 99 000 | 96 000 | 100 000 |
Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion | 2 000 | 2 600 | 2 600 | 2 800 | 2 900 | 3 000 | 2 700 | 2 500 | 2 700 |
Commercial Cooking | 14 000 | 15 000 | 17 000 | 15 000 | 15 000 | 15 000 | 16 000 | 16 000 | 16 000 |
Construction Fuel Combustion | 180 | 110 | 150 | 140 | 140 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 170 |
Home Firewood Burning | 140 000 | 100 000 | 84 000 | 77 000 | 85 000 | 86 000 | 79 000 | 75 000 | 80 000 |
Human | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Marine Cargo Handling | 190 | 140 | 110 | 87 | 81 | 76 | 48 | 46 | 32 |
Residential Fuel Combustion | 2 400 | 2 600 | 2 500 | 2 200 | 2 300 | 2 300 | 2 200 | 2 100 | 2 200 |
Service Stations | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Other (Miscellaneous) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 2 100 | 2 200 | 1 800 | 800 | 810 | 830 | 840 | 850 | 860 |
Crematoriums | 6.0 | 6.9 | 8.2 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
Waste Incineration | 1 500 | 1 500 | 1 000 | 190 | 180 | 180 | 170 | 180 | 180 |
Waste Treatment and Disposal | 580 | 650 | 730 | 590 | 610 | 630 | 650 | 660 | 670 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 3.7 | 7.1 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 43 | 41 | 45 | 49 |
Dry Cleaning | 0.32 | 0.32 | 1.2 | 14 | 13 | 32 | 28 | 32 | 35 |
General Solvent Use | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Printing | 3.0 | 6.4 | 23 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 8.2 | 8.0 | 7.3 | 11 |
Surface Coatings | 0.37 | 0.37 | 0.94 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 4.9 | 5.7 | 2.5 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 490 000 | 590 000 | 650 000 | 770 000 | 810 000 | 840 000 | 740 000 | 760 000 | 750 000 |
Coal Transportation | 330 | 310 | 250 | 220 | 220 | 230 | 200 | 360 | 430 |
Construction Operations | 230 000 | 280 000 | 320 000 | 360 000 | 380 000 | 400 000 | 360 000 | 360 000 | 330 000 |
Mine Tailings | 200 | 280 | 260 | 540 | 560 | 540 | 600 | 660 | 620 |
Paved Roads | 25 000 | 19 000 | 19 000 | 21 000 | 22 000 | 23 000 | 20 000 | 22 000 | 23 000 |
Unpaved Roads | 240 000 | 290 000 | 300 000 | 390 000 | 410 000 | 420 000 | 360 000 | 380 000 | 400 000 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 36 000 | 6 900 | 4 500 | 4 800 | 2 900 | 3 200 | 2 500 | 2 500 | 5 500 |
Prescribed Burning | 36 000 | 6 600 | 4 200 | 4 600 | 2 700 | 3 000 | 2 300 | 2 300 | 5 300 |
Structural Fires | 350 | 280 | 260 | 190 | 200 | 190 | 200 | 220 | 190 |
Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ore and Mineral Industry | 54 000 | 51 000 | 41 000 | 34 000 | 33 000 | 35 000 | 35 000 | 37 000 | 34 000 |
Oil and Gas Industry | 12 000 | 13 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 14 000 | 14 000 |
Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | 49 000 | 23 000 | 9 100 | 3 300 | 3 200 | 2 800 | 2 400 | 2 000 | 2 100 |
Manufacturing | 110 000 | 75 000 | 45 000 | 17 000 | 17 000 | 16 000 | 16 000 | 20 000 | 15 000 |
Transportation and Mobile Equipment | 69 000 | 71 000 | 65 000 | 33 000 | 32 000 | 30 000 | 26 000 | 25 000 | 24 000 |
Agriculture | 680 000 | 540 000 | 450 000 | 370 000 | 370 000 | 370 000 | 360 000 | 340 000 | 350 000 |
Commercial/Residential/Institutional | 160 000 | 120 000 | 110 000 | 98 000 | 110 000 | 110 000 | 99 000 | 96 000 | 100 000 |
Incineration and Waste | 2 100 | 2 200 | 1 800 | 800 | 810 | 830 | 840 | 850 | 860 |
Paints and Solvents | 3.7 | 7.1 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 43 | 41 | 45 | 49 |
Dust | 490 000 | 590 000 | 650 000 | 770 000 | 810 000 | 840 000 | 740 000 | 760 000 | 750 000 |
Fires | 36 000 | 6 900 | 4 500 | 4 800 | 2 900 | 3 200 | 2 500 | 2 500 | 5 500 |
Grand Total | 1 700 000 | 1 500 000 | 1 400 000 | 1 300 000 | 1 400 000 | 1 400 000 | 1 300 000 | 1 300 000 | 1 300 000 |
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 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Domestic Air Transportation (Cruise) | 370 | 480 | 330 | 300 | 320 | 330 | 180 | 210 | 300 |
International Air Transportation (Cruise) | 520 | 580 | 570 | 540 | 620 | 640 | 290 | 310 | 530 |
International Marine Navigation | 5 500 | 8 200 | 9 500 | 1 500 | 1 600 | 1 300 | 980 | 1 100 | 1 000 |
Note:
Refer to Annex 4.4 for more information on international marine navigation and air transportation reporting emissions.
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