Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2025: chapter 2.8
2.8 Cadmium
Approximately 4.3 t of cadmium (Cd) were emitted in Canada in 2023 (Table 2–10). Ore and Mineral Industries accounted for 59% (2.6 t) of national emissions, with the Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry sector contributing 47% (2.0 t) of the national total. Commercial/Residential/Institutional fuel combustion sources contributed 21% (0.93 t) and the Oil and Gas Industry to 8.3% (0.36 t) of total Cd emissions.
From 1990 to 2023, national Cd emissions decreased by 95% (77 t) (Figure 2–8). This trend is almost entirely driven by the Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry sector. Emissions from this industry fluctuated greatly between 1990 and 2006 but decreased steadily from 2007 onward. As with Pb emissions, reductions in Cd emissions coincide with the closure of outdated smelters, the implementation of pollution prevention plans and facilities achieving BLIERs for particulate matter through Environmental Performance Agreements (ECCC, 2017, 2018a). Even though BLIERs were written with focus on particulate matters, reduction of Cd emissions over the years has been an additional positive outcome. Fluctuations in emissions prior to 2010 are almost entirely driven by emissions from a single smelter in Manitoba that is now closed.
The most significant changes in Cd emissions from 1990 to 2023 include:
- Ore and Mineral Industries: decrease of 97% (76 t), with:
- Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry: decrease of 97% (76 t)
Figure 2–8: Trends in Canadian Cd Emissions (1990 to 2023)
Long description for Figure 2-8
Figure 2–8: Trends in Canadian Cadmium Emissions for 1990 to 2023.
Figure 2–8 is a stacked area graph displaying the two major contributors to national cadmium trends that are the following: Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry, and Other. The figure shows an important decrease in emissions of Cd between 1990 and 2023. The following table displays the contributions (t) for the years 1990 to 2023.
| 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 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
| Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry | 78 | 68 | 69 | 12 | 72 | 17 | 24 | 40 | 42 | 36 | 34 | 65 | 35 | 24 | 26 | 29 | 35 | 22 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 4.8 | 6.3 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 2.0 |
Table 2–10: National Summary of Annual Cd Emissions
| Source | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ore and Mineral Industries | 79,000 | 34,000 | 32,000 | 5,000 | 4,600 | 2,400 | 2,800 | 2,300 | 2,600 |
| Aluminium Industry (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 1.2 | 2.1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Asphalt Paving Industry (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 26 | 24 | 25 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 18 |
| Cement and Concrete Industry (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 46 | 46 | 44 | 9.6 | 2.8 | 6.2 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 4.1 |
| Foundries (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 50 | 57 | 310 | 320 | 370 | 310 | 260 | 280 | 260 |
| Iron and Steel Industry (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 160 | 180 | 310 | 230 | 170 | 150 | 170 | 170 | 120 |
| Iron Ore Pelletizing (Ore and Mineral Industries) | NA | NA | NA | 48 | 52 | 48 | 46 | 48 | 45 |
| Mineral Products Industry (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 25 | 24 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Mining and Rock Quarrying (Ore and Mineral Industries) | NA | 550 | 2,900 | 100 | 70 | 59 | 54 | 49 | 50 |
| Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 78,000 | 34,000 | 29,000 | 4,200 | 4,000 | 1,800 | 2,200 | 1,700 | 2,000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | 130 | 190 | 190 | 260 | 230 | 230 | 230 | 320 | 360 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | 130 | 130 | 250 | 97 | 110 | 99 | 96 | 110 | 120 |
| Manufacturing | 1,000 | 870 | 610 | 290 | 240 | 230 | 240 | 260 | 230 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | 160 | 170 | 190 | 65 | 55 | 46 | 44 | 45 | 47 |
| Agriculture | 51 | 54 | 64 | 80 | 84 | 75 | 76 | 80 | 76 |
| Commercial/Residential/Institutional | 990 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,000 | 970 | 1,000 | 930 |
| Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 340 | 510 | 480 | 530 | 550 | 500 | 480 | 510 | 470 |
| Residential Fuel Combustion (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 540 | 500 | 500 | 450 | 460 | 430 | 420 | 440 | 390 |
| Other Commercial/Residential/Institutional Sectors (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 98 | 84 | 120 | 92 | 82 | 71 | 65 | 68 | 63 |
| Incineration and Waste | 76 | 90 | 40 | 24 | 26 | 39 | 39 | 35 | 28 |
| Paints And Solvents | NA | NA | 0.00 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.15 |
| Dust | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Fires | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Grand Total | 81,000 | 37,000 | 35,000 | 6,900 | 6,500 | 4,100 | 4,500 | 4,100 | 4,300 |
Notes:
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
0.00 Indicates emissions were truncated due to rounding.
NA Indicates no emissions.
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