Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2025: chapter 2.9
2.9 Mercury
Approximately 3.1 t of mercury (Hg) were emitted in Canada in 2023 (Table 2–11). Ore and Mineral Industries accounted for 35% (1.1 t) of Hg emissions in 2023, with the Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry and Iron and Steel Industry sectors contributing 11% (0.33 t) and 10% (0.32 t) of the national total, respectively. Incineration and Waste sources accounted for 28% (0.86 t) of Hg emissions in 2023, with Crematoriums being the largest contributor at 22% (0.68 t). Electric Power Generation (Utilities) accounted for 15% (0.47 t) of 2023 emissions, most of which were emitted from coal-powered electric generation with 13% (0.40 t) of the annual national total.
Between 1990 and 2023, Hg emissions decreased by 91% (30 t) (Figure 2–9). This decrease in emissions is mainly due to a large decrease in emissions from the Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry sector. As with Pb and Cd emissions, reductions in Hg emissions coincide with the closure of outdated smelters, the implementation of pollution prevention plans, achieving BLIERs for particulate matter through Environmental Performance Agreements, increased emission control measures, such as changing feedstocks, improved particulate matter emission controls and fuel switching (ECCC, 2017, 2018a). Emission sources from the Electric Power Generation (Utilities) and Incineration and Waste categories also contributed to the overall decrease in Hg emissions, but to a lesser extent.
The most significant changes in Hg emissions from 1990 to 2023 include:
- Ore and Mineral Industry: decrease of 96% (25 t), with:
- Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry: decrease of 99% (25 t)
Figure 2–9: Trends in Canadian Hg Emissions (1990 to 2023)
Long description for Figure 2-9
Figure 2–9: Trends in Canadian Mercury Emissions for 1990 to 2023.
Figure 2–9 is a stacked area graph displaying the five major contributors to national Mercury trends that are the following: Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry, Waste Treatment and Disposal, Iron and Steel Industry, Coal (Electric Power Generation), and Other. The figure shows an important decrease in emissions of Hg 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 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.8 |
| Coal (Electric Power Generation) | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Iron and Steel Industry | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry | 25 | 25 | 25 | 10 | 8.2 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
Table 2–11: National Summary of Annual Hg Emissions
| Source | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ore and Mineral Industries | 26,000 | 3,400 | 2,900 | 1,300 | 1,200 | 1,100 | 1,200 | 990 | 1,100 |
| Iron and Steel Industry (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 710 | 800 | 860 | 600 | 520 | 440 | 440 | 440 | 320 |
| Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 25,000 | 1,900 | 1,700 | 200 | 120 | 160 | 190 | 95 | 330 |
| Other Ore and Mineral Industries Sectors (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 790 | 630 | 360 | 530 | 530 | 510 | 580 | 460 | 450 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | 120 | 61 | 83 | 74 | 70 | 68 | 76 | 92 | 170 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | 2,200 | 2,000 | 2,200 | 610 | 600 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 470 |
| Coal (Electric Power Generation (Utilities)) | 1,900 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 590 | 580 | 480 | 470 | 470 | 400 |
| Other Electric Power Generation (Utilities) Sectors (Electric Power Generation (Utilities)) | 300 | 84 | 120 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 32 | 71 |
| Manufacturing | 1,100 | 1,400 | 500 | 110 | 79 | 78 | 89 | 84 | 82 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | 110 | 110 | 120 | 78 | 74 | 64 | 63 | 64 | 65 |
| Agriculture | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.5 | 6.7 |
| Commercial/Residential/Institutional | 980 | 780 | 740 | 450 | 440 | 410 | 390 | 390 | 360 |
| Incineration and Waste | 2,600 | 2,200 | 1,400 | 740 | 750 | 810 | 860 | 880 | 860 |
| Crematoriums (Incineration and Waste) | 190 | 260 | 330 | 560 | 570 | 630 | 640 | 700 | 680 |
| Waste Incineration (Incineration and Waste) | 1,600 | 1,300 | 600 | 81 | 91 | 91 | 130 | 92 | 100 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal (Incineration and Waste) | 820 | 680 | 490 | 92 | 91 | 90 | 94 | 88 | 85 |
| Paints and Solvents | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Dust | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Fires | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Grand Total | 34,000 | 9,900 | 7,900 | 3,400 | 3,200 | 3,000 | 3,200 | 3,000 | 3,100 |
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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