Archived: Air Pollutant Emission Inventory report: chapter 2.1
2.1 Particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5)
In 2015, approximately 1.6 million tonnes (Mt) of PM2.5 were emitted in Canada (Table 2-3). Dust sources accounted for 62% (1.0 Mt) of total PM2.5 emissions, with the most important dust sources being construction operations at 31% (500 kt) and dust from unpaved and paved roads at 30% (490 kt). Agricultural sources were the second largest contributor and accounted for 20% (320 kt) of PM2.5 emissions, most of which are attributed to crop production (19% or 320 kt of annual PM2.5 emissions). In these sectors, PM is largely emitted by non-combustion sources. Commercial/residential/institutional sources accounted for 11% (180 kt) of total PM2.5 emissions in 2015, with the most important sector being home firewood burning at 10% (160 kt) of total emissions. All other sources accounted for less than 3% of total PM2.5 emissions.
Overall, emissions of PM2.5 decreased from 1990 to 2015 (Figure 2-1), despite an increasing trend from construction operations and paved and unpaved roads. The downward trend was influenced predominantly by decreasing emissions from crop production, home firewood burning and other sectors. Decreases in emissions from crop production can be attributed to the adoption of conservation tillage practices. Decreases in home firewood burning are due to the use of new fireplace inserts, furnaces and stoves with improved PM2.5 emission controls and combustion efficiencies. Emissions from construction operations tended to decrease until 2002, followed by an increase from 2002 to 2012. PM2.5 emissions from paved and unpaved roads followed a more gradual, consistent increasing trend from 1990 to 2002 and remained stable between 2002 and 2015. Emission increases in construction operations were primarily due to growth in construction for the oil and gas industries in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The trend in PM2.5 emissions from roads is driven predominantly by the use of unpaved roads in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.
The most significant changes in PM2.5 emissions from 1990 to 2015 include:
- Dust sources: increase of 57% (360 kt)
- Construction operations: increase of 112% (270 kt)
- Dust from paved and unpaved roads: increase of 24% (97 kt)
- Agriculture sources: decrease of 53% (360 kt)
- Crop production: decrease of 53% (360 kt)
- Commercial/residential/institutional sources: decrease of 35% (97 kt)
- Home firewood burning: decrease of 38% (100 kt)
Long description for figure 2-1
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 1 - Construction operations | 238.2862 | 225.5504 | 215.5271 | 196.0813 | 240.6771 | 189.716 | 231.2079 | 286.409 | 147.8603 | 166.5247 | 147.5303 | 150.7066 | 127.7057 | 140.6496 | 151.4803 | 168.7656 | 221.652 | 293.4268 | 374.4461 | 272.9015 | 363.8212 | 411.6065 | 504.8019 | 504.8019 | 504.8019 | 504.8019 |
| Sector 2 - Paved and Unpaved Roads | 397.1448 | 399.2146 | 398.695 | 413.8184 | 427.9099 | 420.2075 | 406.2906 | 428.3607 | 443.1222 | 458.6855 | 468.9841 | 484.4222 | 488.1654 | 488.2155 | 488.2929 | 488.2833 | 488.2971 | 493.2678 | 492.5222 | 491.6614 | 492.6505 | 492.8566 | 493.0927 | 493.1932 | 493.4816 | 493.8389 |
| Sector 3 - Crop production | 676.2295 | 669.0278 | 654.247 | 639.9588 | 625.419 | 610.7212 | 596.429 | 582.3785 | 568.5835 | 554.8993 | 541.306 | 527.8646 | 507.7173 | 487.6258 | 466.9169 | 446.9374 | 426.7956 | 413.4125 | 400.1345 | 387.0673 | 374.2386 | 360.8817 | 348.3663 | 336.2324 | 325.3708 | 315.9539 |
| Sector 4 - Home Firewood Burning | 262.0868 | 258.3628 | 246.9699 | 258.4548 | 263.1002 | 251.239 | 248.0165 | 234.7572 | 246.9738 | 232.8501 | 223.1729 | 204.1993 | 219.2166 | 186.3784 | 179.2087 | 166.8228 | 158.8497 | 158.5303 | 160.3186 | 154.3881 | 163.7802 | 164.8025 | 165.7691 | 164.7069 | 163.5655 | 162.4652 |
| Sector 5 - Other | 392.9682 | 371.6661 | 347.7768 | 360.6587 | 357.0427 | 356.9923 | 337.8 | 322.8751 | 310.9151 | 305.5021 | 300.0852 | 268.8683 | 241.4004 | 252.6752 | 225.7298 | 223.6477 | 198.2024 | 190.617 | 187.7515 | 175.3065 | 171.2254 | 163.3992 | 157.4111 | 150.9658 | 158.425 | 143.8119 |
| Source | Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Total | 2,000,000 | 1,700,000 | 1,500,000 | 1,600,000 | 1,600,000 | 1,700,000 | 1,600,000 | 1,600,000 | 1,600,000 | |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Empty | 59,000 | 56,000 | 45,000 | 37,000 | 35,000 | 35,000 | 34,000 | 34,000 | 33,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Aluminium Industry | 5,400 | 4,500 | 4,700 | 4,600 | 4,500 | 4,500 | 4,100 | 3,700 | 3,300 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Asphalt Paving Industry | 1,900 | 1,700 | 1,500 | 2,000 | 1,800 | 1,500 | 1,400 | 1,600 | 1,600 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Cement and Concrete Industry | 11,000 | 9,500 | 12,000 | 7,500 | 7,600 | 8,000 | 7,600 | 7,600 | 7,600 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Foundries | 6,100 | 5,100 | 5,200 | 5,300 | 5,200 | 5,200 | 5,200 | 5,200 | 5,200 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron and Steel Industries | 11,000 | 9,400 | 5,100 | 2,000 | 2,100 | 2,600 | 2,100 | 2,500 | 2,400 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron Ore Industry | 1,600 | 4,500 | 1,700 | 1,300 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 950 | 950 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mineral Products Industry | 1,300 | 1,200 | 1,300 | 450 | 420 | 350 | 450 | 470 | 410 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mining and Rock Quarrying | 13,000 | 14,000 | 9,000 | 13,000 | 11,000 | 9,400 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 9,500 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Non-Ferrous Mining and Smelting Industry | 8,800 | 6,000 | 4,800 | 1,600 | 1,900 | 1,900 | 1,800 | 1,900 | 2,100 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Empty | 12,000 | 13,000 | 12,000 | 9,400 | 9,600 | 9,600 | 10,000 | 12,000 | 10,000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Downstream Petroleum Industry | 5,100 | 4,900 | 4,500 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 1,800 | 1,700 | 1,600 | 1,400 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Petroleum Product Transportation and Distribution | 580 | 560 | 420 | 110 | 100 | 100 | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Upstream Petroleum Industry | 6,700 | 8,000 | 7,500 | 7,300 | 7,500 | 7,700 | 8,300 | 9,800 | 8,800 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Empty | 48,000 | 22,000 | 8,700 | 5,700 | 4,300 | 3,200 | 3,200 | 4,000 | 3,800 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Coal | 46,000 | 20,000 | 5,000 | 3,200 | 2,500 | 2,300 | 2,200 | 3,000 | 2,800 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Diesel | 260 | 400 | 380 | 380 | 170 | 160 | 160 | 180 | 190 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Natural Gas | 1,100 | 1,000 | 1,400 | 1,700 | 1,300 | 440 | 470 | 390 | 390 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Waste Materials | 6.8 | 54 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 25 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Other Electric Power Generation | 1,300 | 730 | 1,800 | 350 | 430 | 330 | 340 | 440 | 450 |
| Manufacturing | Empty | 120,000 | 79,000 | 44,000 | 20,000 | 21,000 | 20,000 | 21,000 | 19,000 | 19,000 |
| Manufacturing | Abrasives Manufacture | 390 | 210 | 200 | 5 | 5.4 | 7.8 | 8.1 | 8.4 | 15 |
| Manufacturing | Bakeries | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.43 | 2.7 | 2 | 0.87 | 0.78 | 0.76 | 6.9 |
| Manufacturing | Biofuel Production | - | - | - | 6.3 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| Manufacturing | Chemicals Industry | 4,800 | 4,500 | 4,000 | 1,300 | 1,400 | 1,500 | 1,600 | 1,400 | 1,300 |
| Manufacturing | Electronics | 120 | 39 | 5.2 | 0.035 | 0.46 | - | - | 0.55 | 0.49 |
| Manufacturing | Food Preparation | 1,400 | 2,100 | 1,700 | 820 | 780 | 730 | 810 | 750 | 740 |
| Manufacturing | Glass Manufacture | 920 | 1,300 | 1,100 | 240 | 230 | 140 | 140 | 150 | 150 |
| Manufacturing | Grain Processing | 2,200 | 2,900 | 2,000 | 2,500 | 2,500 | 2,600 | 2,400 | 2,800 | 2,800 |
| Manufacturing | Metal Fabrication | 820 | 1,300 | 970 | 790 | 860 | 870 | 790 | 430 | 420 |
| Manufacturing | Plastics Manufacture | 220 | 220 | 150 | 130 | 160 | 140 | 100 | 90 | 59 |
| Manufacturing | Pulp and Paper Industry | 61,000 | 25,000 | 17,000 | 8,200 | 9,200 | 8,400 | 9,000 | 8,400 | 7,600 |
| Manufacturing | Textiles | 16 | 23 | 18 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 1.2 |
| Manufacturing | Vehicle Manufacture (Engines Parts Assembly Painting) | 1,600 | 1,500 | 550 | 260 | 260 | 190 | 180 | 150 | 160 |
| Manufacturing | Wood Products | 37,000 | 31,000 | 14,000 | 5,400 | 5,300 | 5,500 | 5,600 | 4,600 | 5,000 |
| Manufacturing | Other Manufacturing Industries | 6,200 | 8,800 | 2,900 | 210 | 200 | 170 | 190 | 180 | 170 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Empty | 93,000 | 94,000 | 79,000 | 66,000 | 59,000 | 54,000 | 52,000 | 50,000 | 40,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Air Transportation | 640 | 840 | 830 | 750 | 760 | 860 | 880 | 870 | 870 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty diesel vehicles | 16,000 | 15,000 | 17,000 | 13,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 10,000 | 9,700 | 8,900 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty gasoline vehicles | 3,500 | 2,300 | 2,100 | 1,600 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,000 | 980 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty LPG/NG vehicles | 690 | 760 | 170 | 57 | 8.5 | 6 | 3.4 | 22 | 4.1 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty diesel trucks | 14 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 9.8 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty diesel vehicles | 51 | 27 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty gasoline trucks | 2,100 | 2,400 | 1,600 | 1,300 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,100 | 1,100 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty gasoline vehicles | 5,200 | 3,600 | 2,200 | 1,500 | 1,300 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,100 | 1,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG trucks | 220 | 97 | 34 | 5.8 | 2 | 1.3 | 0.69 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG vehicles | 28 | 14 | 5.7 | 0.76 | 0.11 | 0.07 | 0.03 | 0.023 | 0.022 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Marine Transportation | 9,700 | 13,000 | 15,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 4,600 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Motorcycles | 23 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road diesel vehicles and equipment | 40,000 | 41,000 | 29,000 | 24,000 | 20,000 | 17,000 | 16,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road gasoline/LPG/CNG vehicles and equipment | 11,000 | 8,700 | 6,300 | 5,900 | 5,000 | 4,600 | 4,300 | 4,400 | 4,400 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Rail Transportation | 3,600 | 3,400 | 3,300 | 2,600 | 2,900 | 2,900 | 2,800 | 2,900 | 2,900 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Tire Wear and Brake Lining | 770 | 1,100 | 1,200 | 1,300 | 1,300 | 1,300 | 1,400 | 1,400 | 1,400 |
| Agriculture | Empty | 680,000 | 540,000 | 450,000 | 380,000 | 360,000 | 350,000 | 340,000 | 330,000 | 320,000 |
| Agriculture | Animal Production | 1,700 | 2,100 | 2,300 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,100 |
| Agriculture | Crop Production | 680,000 | 540,000 | 450,000 | 370,000 | 360,000 | 350,000 | 340,000 | 330,000 | 320,000 |
| Agriculture | Fuel Use | 120 | 140 | 130 | 230 | 280 | 270 | 280 | 290 | 290 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Empty | 280,000 | 240,000 | 190,000 | 190,000 | 190,000 | 190,000 | 190,000 | 190,000 | 180,000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Cigarette Smoking | 810 | 690 | 530 | 490 | 490 | 480 | 410 | 410 | 410 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion | 2,000 | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,200 | 2,400 | 2,200 | 2,300 | 2,400 | 2,400 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial Cooking | 14,000 | 15,000 | 17,000 | 18,000 | 17,000 | 17,000 | 17,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Construction Fuel Combustion | 180 | 110 | 160 | 170 | 130 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Home Firewood Burning | 260,000 | 220,000 | 170,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 170,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 | 160,000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Human | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Marine Cargo Handling | 180 | 140 | 100 | 40 | 46 | 43 | 75 | 75 | 68 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Residential Fuel Combustion | 2,400 | 2,500 | 2,400 | 2,300 | 2,500 | 2,300 | 2,400 | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Service Stations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Other Miscellaneous Sources | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Incineration and Waste | Empty | 5,000 | 4,400 | 3,700 | 3,100 | 2,900 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 |
| Incineration and Waste | Crematoriums | 4.3 | 6.6 | 5.1 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 7.1 |
| Incineration and Waste | Industrial and Commercial Incineration | 17 | 21 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.3 |
| Incineration and Waste | Municipal Incineration | 1,700 | 1,700 | 860 | 330 | 200 | 77 | 41 | 14 | 13 |
| Incineration and Waste | Waste | 3,300 | 2,700 | 2,800 | 2,800 | 2,700 | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,700 | 2,700 |
| Incineration and Waste | Other Incineration and Utilities | 2.1 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| Paints and Solvents | Empty | 3.7 | 7.1 | 25 | 14 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 12 |
| Paints and Solvents | Dry Cleaning | 0.32 | 0.32 | 0.62 | 1.2 | 15 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 4.9 | 6.1 |
| Paints and Solvents | General Solvent Use | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paints and Solvents | Printing | 3 | 6.4 | 23 | 11 | 7.3 | 8.7 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.1 |
| Paints and Solvents | Surface Coatings | 0.37 | 0.37 | 0.94 | 0.87 | - | 0.83 | 0.78 | 0.63 | 1 |
| Dust | Empty | 640,000 | 620,000 | 660,000 | 860,000 | 910,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Dust | Coal Transportation | 190 | 170 | 120 | 41 | 40 | 41 | 45 | 42 | 39 |
| Dust | Construction Operations | 240,000 | 150,000 | 170,000 | 360,000 | 410,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 |
| Dust | Mine Tailings | 1,200 | 1,200 | 580 | 660 | 660 | 660 | 660 | 660 | 660 |
| Dust | Paved Roads | 110,000 | 140,000 | 140,000 | 140,000 | 140,000 | 140,000 | 140,000 | 140,000 | 140,000 |
| Dust | Unpaved Roads | 280,000 | 330,000 | 350,000 | 350,000 | 350,000 | 350,000 | 350,000 | 350,000 | 350,000 |
| Fires | Empty | 36,000 | 6,900 | 4,500 | 4,200 | 6,400 | 7,600 | 3,200 | 12,000 | 10,000 |
| Fires | Prescribed Forest Burning | 36,000 | 6,600 | 4,200 | 3,900 | 6,200 | 7,300 | 2,900 | 12,000 | 10,000 |
| Fires | Structural Fires | 350 | 280 | 250 | 240 | 280 | 280 | 280 | 200 | 190 |
Notes:
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
- denotes no emissions.
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