Archived: Air Pollutant Emission Inventory report: chapter 2.2
2.2 Sulphur oxides (SOx)
In 2015, 1.1 Mt of SOx were emitted in Canada (Table 2-4). Ore and mineral industries were the largest contributor, accounting for 46% (480 kt) of national emissions. Approximately 76% (370 kt) of the emissions from this source was attributed to the non-ferrous mining and smelting industry. Electric power generation (utilities) was the second-largest source of SOx, accounting for 24% (250 kt) of total SOx emissions, including coal-fired electricity generation at 23% (240 kt). Oil and gas industry sources follow, accounting for 22% (230 kt) of total SOx emissions. The remaining 8% of SOx emissions were distributed across multiple sources.
Overall, SOx emissions decreased by 65% (2.0 Mt) between 1990 and 2015 (Figure 2-2). Reductions in emissions from the non-ferrous mining and smelting industry were the largest driver of this downward trend, particularly in the early 1990s, and again from 2008 to 2015. This decrease is attributed to government initiatives to reduce acid rain the installation of new technology or processes at facilities, and the closure of three major smelters in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Emissions from electric power generation significantly decreased from 2003 to 2015, due primarily to decreased coal-fired electricity generation across the country, including the complete phase-out of coal electricity generation in Ontario. Upstream petroleum experienced a gradual decline throughout the time series as a result of a decrease in emissions from bitumen and heavy oil upgrading and natural gas processing, attributed to better emission control technologies.
The most significant decreases in SOx emissions from 1990 to 2015 include:
- Ore and mineral industries: decrease of 68% (1.0 Mt)
- Non-ferrous smelting and refining industry: decrease of 71% (900 kt)
- Electric power generation (utilities): decrease of 59% (370 kt)
- Coal: decrease of 53% (270 kt)
- Oil and gas industry: decrease of 56% (300 kt)
- Upstream petroleum industry: decrease of 53% (210 kt)
Long description for figure 2-2
| 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 - Non-Ferrous Mining and Smelting Industry | 1272.085 | 1119.44 | 973.9461 | 895.0876 | 681.3287 | 888.8571 | 878.3039 | 821.11 | 830.786 | 770.0803 | 763.5352 | 757.7 | 754.7981 | 655.5764 | 703.0012 | 683.1479 | 668.912 | 623.704 | 570.0871 | 401.307 | 372.5786 | 333.4457 | 342.2842 | 370.0398 | 373.0468 | 365.0803 |
| Sector 2 - Coal | 515.0206 | 506.2778 | 518.2921 | 464.4333 | 489.2624 | 458.7239 | 465.6378 | 510.7413 | 518.4441 | 513.4607 | 535.8766 | 536.0149 | 534.5258 | 530.0267 | 473.0387 | 461.2934 | 440.5611 | 473.5923 | 411.3078 | 368.7892 | 322.3544 | 286.4238 | 277.7832 | 271.6878 | 259.8141 | 241.5668 |
| Sector 3 - Upstream Petroleum Industry | 403.9778 | 395.5555 | 420.4847 | 430.1147 | 457.2275 | 440.2483 | 430.2188 | 389.4804 | 367.2468 | 375.7082 | 368.0387 | 358.6552 | 335.7273 | 355.1427 | 349.2371 | 351.7586 | 333.9537 | 315.3039 | 295.3514 | 291.8697 | 275.6364 | 269.5565 | 262.4056 | 245.3577 | 210.8341 | 188.9863 |
| Sector 4 - Other | 875.3724 | 824.3982 | 814.5958 | 856.6774 | 807.3036 | 775.6425 | 798.6178 | 808.752 | 772.9353 | 737.4816 | 735.341 | 733.0059 | 708.3414 | 745.8373 | 734.2 | 694.3634 | 547.9138 | 521.9995 | 471.265 | 416.3296 | 400.8389 | 398.2014 | 389.2257 | 370.8237 | 364.7422 | 258.7654 |
| Source | Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grnad Total | 3,100,000 | 2,400,000 | 2,200,000 | 1,400,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,200,000 | 1,100,000 | |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Empty | 1,500,000 | 920,000 | 860,000 | 500,000 | 470,000 | 480,000 | 490,000 | 490,000 | 480,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Aluminium Industry | 31,000 | 48,000 | 63,000 | 59,000 | 65,000 | 63,000 | 60,000 | 55,000 | 57,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Asphalt Paving Industry | 740 | 650 | 720 | 990 | 850 | 620 | 580 | 650 | 680 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Cement and Concrete Industry | 48,000 | 44,000 | 54,000 | 23,000 | 22,000 | 25,000 | 23,000 | 20,000 | 24,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Foundries | 1,300 | 910 | 720 | 49 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron and Steel Industries | 36,000 | 29,000 | 30,000 | 27,000 | 29,000 | 30,000 | 24,000 | 24,000 | 22,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron Ore Industry | 59,000 | 17,000 | 19,000 | 15,000 | 12,000 | 13,000 | 11,000 | 10,000 | 12,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mineral Products Industry | 1,600 | 1,000 | 1,700 | 1,200 | 1,400 | 1,500 | 1,800 | 1,600 | 1,300 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mining and Rock Quarrying | 35,000 | 11,000 | 6,300 | 5,300 | 5,800 | 3,000 | 2,200 | 2,000 | 1,800 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Non-Ferrous Mining and Smelting Industry | 1,300,000 | 760,000 | 680,000 | 370,000 | 330,000 | 340,000 | 370,000 | 370,000 | 370,000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Empty | 530,000 | 510,000 | 470,000 | 340,000 | 330,000 | 320,000 | 300,000 | 260,000 | 230,000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Downstream Petroleum Industry | 130,000 | 140,000 | 110,000 | 61,000 | 58,000 | 56,000 | 56,000 | 53,000 | 45,000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Petroleum Product Transportation and Distribution | 540 | 3,800 | 5,000 | 380 | 290 | 330 | 82 | 83 | 49 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Upstream Petroleum Industry | 400,000 | 370,000 | 350,000 | 280,000 | 270,000 | 260,000 | 250,000 | 210,000 | 190,000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Empty | 620,000 | 620,000 | 530,000 | 330,000 | 290,000 | 280,000 | 280,000 | 270,000 | 250,000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Coal | 520,000 | 540,000 | 460,000 | 320,000 | 290,000 | 280,000 | 270,000 | 260,000 | 240,000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Diesel | 410 | 420 | 300 | 170 | 56 | 55 | 59 | 110 | 270 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Natural Gas | 29,000 | 20,000 | 19,000 | 2,900 | 680 | 570 | 1,300 | 2,200 | 2,000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Waste Materials | 110 | 66 | 52 | 45 | 91 | 97 | 86 | 79 | 53 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Other Electric Power Generation | 74,000 | 63,000 | 46,000 | 8,500 | 6,000 | 5,800 | 5,100 | 7,000 | 7,700 |
| Manufacturing | Empty | 220,000 | 160,000 | 140,000 | 53,000 | 53,000 | 50,000 | 49,000 | 53,000 | 48,000 |
| Manufacturing | Abrasives Manufacture | 4,000 | 860 | 860 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Bakeries | 0.053 | 0.052 | 0.16 | 0.0042 | 0.006 | 0.0051 | 0.0064 | 0.0062 | 0.0054 |
| Manufacturing | Biofuel Production | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Chemicals Industry | 38,000 | 31,000 | 35,000 | 21,000 | 23,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 21,000 | 22,000 |
| Manufacturing | Electronics | 1,700 | 3,000 | 3,000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Food Preparation | 3,500 | 4,800 | 5,200 | 1,700 | 1,700 | 900 | 740 | 610 | 370 |
| Manufacturing | Glass Manufacture | 2,300 | 2,800 | 2,500 | 600 | 590 | 630 | 630 | 600 | 630 |
| Manufacturing | Grain Processing | 230 | 210 | 390 | 660 | 700 | 660 | 630 | 470 | 510 |
| Manufacturing | Metal Fabrication | 2,300 | 2,700 | 2,000 | 670 | 200 | 200 | 190 | 9.2 | 8.6 |
| Manufacturing | Plastics Manufacture | 1,600 | 1,000 | 870 | 590 | 620 | 610 | 450 | 390 | 57 |
| Manufacturing | Pulp and Paper Industry | 140,000 | 78,000 | 62,000 | 27,000 | 26,000 | 26,000 | 26,000 | 29,000 | 24,000 |
| Manufacturing | Textiles | 380 | 390 | 320 | 52 | 51 | 41 | 31 | 22 | 17 |
| Manufacturing | Vehicle Manufacture (Engines, Parts, Assembly, Painting) | 1,100 | 1,000 | 990 | 380 | 350 | 45 | 150 | 0.64 | 0.014 |
| Manufacturing | Wood Products | 3,000 | 3,500 | 3,100 | 860 | 640 | 580 | 570 | 640 | 630 |
| Manufacturing | Other Manufacturing Industries | 29,000 | 25,000 | 23,000 | 180 | 24 | 0.88 | 0.7 | 0.79 | 1.1 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Empty | 150,000 | 170,000 | 150,000 | 110,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 18,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Air Transportation | 5,300 | 6,600 | 7,400 | 4,800 | 5,100 | 5,900 | 6,100 | 6,100 | 6,100 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty diesel vehicles | 16,000 | 6,700 | 6,100 | 130 | 160 | 160 | 170 | 160 | 160 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty gasoline vehicles | 1,000 | 2,000 | 150 | 140 | 160 | 170 | 180 | 180 | 180 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty LPG/NG vehicles | 270 | 1,400 | 10 | 2.2 | 0.96 | 1 | 0.51 | 4.8 | 1.1 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty diesel trucks | 180 | 76 | 49 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty diesel vehicles | 590 | 140 | 110 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty gasoline trucks | 3,400 | 6,500 | 500 | 470 | 540 | 590 | 610 | 610 | 620 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty gasoline vehicles | 7,800 | 8,600 | 560 | 440 | 490 | 510 | 520 | 500 | 490 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG trucks | 230 | 190 | 10 | 1.8 | 0.65 | 0.42 | 0.22 | 0.17 | 0.17 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG vehicles | 26 | 32 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.033 | 0.019 | 0.0081 | 0.0065 | 0.0065 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Marine Transportation | 80,000 | 110,000 | 130,000 | 110,000 | 110,000 | 110,000 | 110,000 | 110,000 | 10,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Motorcycles | 15 | 25 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.9 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road diesel vehicles and equipment | 26,000 | 16,000 | 7,000 | 320 | 240 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 160 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road gasoline/LPG/CNG vehicles and equipment | 1,300 | 1,300 | 73 | 79 | 76 | 74 | 74 | 80 | 82 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Rail Transportation | 5,700 | 5,400 | 5,000 | 470 | 450 | 450 | 430 | 450 | 450 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Tire Wear and Brake Lining | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Empty | 2,200 | 1,500 | 2,900 | 7,500 | 9,000 | 7,900 | 8,300 | 9,000 | 9,000 |
| Agriculture | Animal Production | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Crop Production | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Fuel Use | 2,200 | 1,500 | 2,900 | 7,500 | 9,000 | 7,900 | 8,300 | 9,000 | 9,000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Empty | 52,000 | 34,000 | 36,000 | 18,000 | 17,000 | 13,000 | 9,400 | 6,800 | 6,600 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Cigarette Smoking | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion | 19,000 | 19,000 | 21,000 | 6,400 | 7,500 | 6,000 | 3,000 | 3,300 | 3,200 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial Cooking | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Construction Fuel Combustion | 1,900 | 610 | 1,400 | 1,900 | 690 | 510 | 330 | 350 | 350 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Home Firewood Burning | 3,600 | 3,300 | 2,700 | 2,800 | 2,800 | 2,900 | 2,800 | 2,800 | 2,800 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Human | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Marine Cargo Handling | 0.005 | 0.001 | - | - | - | - | 140 | 140 | 88 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Residential Fuel Combustion | 28,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 6,900 | 5,800 | 3,900 | 3,000 | 190 | 190 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Service Stations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Other Miscellaneous Sources | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Incineration and Waste | Empty | 3,100 | 2,900 | 3,000 | 2,900 | 3,200 | 3,100 | 3,100 | 3,300 | 3,600 |
| Incineration and Waste | Crematoriums | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| Incineration and Waste | Industrial and Commercial Incineration | 39 | 29 | 24 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 450 |
| Incineration and Waste | Municipal Incineration | 1,000 | 730 | 660 | 180 | 220 | 280 | 250 | 190 | 210 |
| Incineration and Waste | Waste | 1,000 | 1,100 | 740 | 580 | 820 | 760 | 740 | 970 | 1,300 |
| Incineration and Waste | Other Incineration and Utilities | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,500 | 1,600 | 1,600 | 1,600 | 1,600 | 1,600 | 1,600 |
| Paints and Solvents | Empty | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.63 | 0.014 | 0.0038 | - | 0.004 | 0.004 | 0.003 |
| Paints and Solvents | Dry Cleaning | 0.0068 | 0.0086 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paints and Solvents | General Solvent Use | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paints and Solvents | Printing | 2 | 1.5 | 0.63 | 0.014 | 0.0038 | - | 0.004 | 0.004 | 0.003 |
| Paints and Solvents | Surface Coatings | 0.015 | 0.015 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Empty | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Coal Transportation | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Construction Operations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Mine Tailings | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Paved Roads | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Unpaved Roads | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fires | Empty | 180 | 28 | 18 | 16 | 27 | 34 | 13 | 53 | 41 |
| Fires | Prescribed Forest Burning | 180 | 28 | 18 | 16 | 27 | 34 | 13 | 53 | 41 |
| Fires | Structural Fires | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Notes:
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
- denotes no emissions.
Page details
- Date modified: