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:

The most significant changes in PM2.5 emissions from 2005 to 2022 include:

Figure 2–1: Trends in Canadian PM2.5 Emissions (1990 to 2022)

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.

Figure 2-1: Trends in Canadian PM2.5 Emissions (1990 to 2022) (kt)
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

Ore and Mineral Industries (tonnes)
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
Oil and Gas Industry (tonnes)
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
Electric Power Generation (Utilities) (tonnes)
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
Manufacturing (tonnes)
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
Transportation and Mobile Equipment (tonnes)
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
Agriculture (tonnes)
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
Commercial/Residential/Institutional (tonnes)
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)
Incineration and Waste (tonnes)
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
Paints and Solvents Paints and Solvents (tonnes)
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
Dust (tonnes)
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
Fires (tonnes)
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
Totals (tonnes)
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

Other emissions estimated in the APEI (tonnes)
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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