Sound air quality science to support decision making
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999 (CEPA 1999) is the cornerstone of the Government of Canada’s environmental legislation, aimed at preventing pollution and protecting the environment and human health from the risks posed by harmful pollutants. CEPA 1999 requires, and at times mandates, scientific research and related activities to be conducted in support of a range of issues. These activities support better decision-making and improve the prediction of the consequences of specific control and/or regulatory options.
Some of the many ways in which Environment Canada’s Air Quality Research Division’s team of research scientists, chemists, engineers, and other specialists are delivering on CEPA 1999 and related issues:
- Undertaking research to determine how substances are dispersed through the atmosphere
- Gathering information through monitoring and predicting changes in the environment
- Contributing to the assessment of impacts of substances on the environment, particularly through atmospheric processes
- Identifying sources of air pollution that pose the greatest risk
- Developing and/or improving upon tools and techniques (including analytical and sampling methodologies) that may be used to take the best action to protect the environment and human health
Methods Development
Activities to develop and improve sampling and analytical methodologies for the measurement of chemical contaminants in the atmosphere. Past accomplishments include:
- Key scientific contributions to Canada-Wide Standards for Particulate Matter and Ozone, Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil
- Development of a CEPA Reference Method for ethylene oxide control efficiency from catalytic oxidizers in sterilization operations
- Revision of a CEPA Reference Method for determining releases of vinyl chloride from vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride plants
- Development of a CEPA Reference Method for hexavalent chromium from chromium electroplating, anodizing, and reverse etching operations
Enforcement and Compliance Support
Research and development activities and science and technology expertise contribute to Environment Canada’s programs to ensure compliance with and enforcement of Canada’s environmental regulations and guidelines, such as CEPA 1999. These activities include:
- Performing legal analyses of pollution samples to support CEPA 1999
- Providing expert witness support under CEPA 1999
- Vehicle and engine emissions testing for the government’s regulatory compliance audit program for new light-duty vehicles, small spark ignition and heavy duty engines, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles offered for sale in Canada
- Enforcement testing of small spark ignition (SSI) utility engines in accordance with CEPA Off-Road SSI Engine Emission Regulations
- Emissions testing for total hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, methane, carbonyls, non-methane hydrocarbons, non-methane organic gas
Specialized Research Facilities
- Specially designed and operated organic sample preparation laboratory for measuring low levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and regulated compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins and furans.
- Inorganic laboratory to develop and apply analytical methods to detect elements and anions in air particulates
- Comprehensive and modern analytical equipment (e.g., gas chromatography - time-of-flight mass spectrometry)
- Vehicle/ mobile/ engine source emissions testing facility - one of only two of its kind in North America