Archived: Air Pollutant Emission Inventory report: chapter 2.3
2.3 Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
Approximately 1.9 Mt of NOx were released in Canada in 2015 (Table 2-5). Transportation and mobile equipment was the largest contributor, accounting for 54% (1.0 Mt) of total NOx emissions. Within this source category, heavy-duty diesel vehicles, marine transportation, and off-road diesel vehicles and equipment were the largest emitters, collectively contributing 35% (660 kt) of total NOx emissions. The oil and gas industry accounted for 25% (470 kt) of NOx emissions in 2015, including the upstream petroleum industry, which accounted for 23% (430 kt) of the national total. Electric power generation (utilities) contributed 8% (150 kt) of NOx emissions, including coal-fired generation, which contributed 6% (110 kt) of national emissions. The remaining 13% of NOx emissions were distributed across multiple sources.
From 1990 to 2015, national NOx emissions decreased by 22% (530 kt) (Figure 2-3). A significant driver of this trend was the consistent reduction in emissions from light-duty gasoline trucks and vehicles across the entire time series, as a result of increasingly stringent vehicle regulations. Emissions from off-road diesel vehicles and equipment decreased more gradually through the same time period, while emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles increased from 1990 to 2005, followed by a consistent decreasing trend beginning in 2006. Within electric power generation (utilities), the coal sector contributed to the decreasing trend across the time series, with a gradual decrease in emissions from 1998 to 2015. Finally, the upstream petroleum industry and marine transportation are the only major contributors to NOx emissions that experienced an increase in emissions across the time series. This increase is attributed to expansion and growth in the petroleum industry and increased marine transportation activity, respectively.
The most significant changes in NOx emissions from 1990 to 2015 include:
- Transportation and mobile equipment emissions: decrease of 28% (400 kt)
- Light-duty gasoline trucks and vehicles: decrease of 67% (210 kt)
- Off-road diesel vehicles and equipment: decrease of 47% (150 kt)
- Heavy-duty diesel vehicles: decrease of 19% (60 kt)
- Marine transportation: increase of 70% (100 kt)
- Electric power generation (utilities) emissions: decrease of 40% (100 kt)
- Coal: decrease of 44% (90 kt)
- Oil and gas industry emissions: increase of 36% (120 kt)
- Upstream petroleum industry: increase of 50% (140 kt)
- Downstream petroleum industry: decrease of 49% (17 kt)
- Petroleum product transportation and distribution: decrease of 11% (3 kt)
Long description for figure 2-3
| 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 - Heavy-duty diesel vehicles | 306.2258 | 261.6947 | 247.9113 | 262.4538 | 296.2706 | 315.0376 | 309.843 | 351.1241 | 405.4733 | 415.316 | 420.9223 | 406.8177 | 387.9571 | 384.997 | 378.5829 | 409.2989 | 388.8794 | 373.1158 | 358.9396 | 326.1506 | 327.3544 | 324.2138 | 300.4497 | 286.0749 | 265.6313 | 248.2413 |
| Sector 2 - Marine Transportation | 139.7383 | 143.8244 | 147.9104 | 151.9964 | 156.0825 | 160.1685 | 165.4755 | 170.7825 | 176.0895 | 181.3965 | 186.7035 | 191.6478 | 196.5922 | 201.5365 | 206.4809 | 211.4252 | 210.0706 | 208.9959 | 207.9212 | 206.8464 | 205.9305 | 212.2399 | 218.5494 | 224.8589 | 231.1684 | 237.4778 |
| Sector 3 - Upstream Petroleum Industry | 286.6127 | 279.7879 | 295.4124 | 317.2412 | 346.4459 | 363.9051 | 375.9518 | 417.3241 | 430.0401 | 446.4807 | 388.7982 | 382.2857 | 379.9756 | 432.8716 | 365.976 | 366.9408 | 380.0427 | 401.9878 | 414.1769 | 417.4712 | 416.0064 | 430.9856 | 421.5449 | 421.1378 | 431.8086 | 428.7253 |
| Sector 4 - Other | 1686.937 | 1626.756 | 1691.039 | 1693.282 | 1739.628 | 1757.92 | 1818.733 | 1888.685 | 1868.093 | 1897.735 | 1905.307 | 1783.033 | 1746.641 | 1663.179 | 1589.004 | 1467.964 | 1363.442 | 1338.721 | 1261.337 | 1135.344 | 1178.174 | 1108.35 | 1036.545 | 1010.414 | 999.1743 | 979.3311 |
| Source | Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Total | 2,400,000 | 2,900,000 | 2,500,000 | 2,100,000 | 2,100,000 | 2,000,000 | 1,900,000 | 1,900,000 | 1,900,000 | |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Empty | 110,000 | 99,000 | 110,000 | 85,000 | 86,000 | 89,000 | 83,000 | 82,000 | 82,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Aluminium Industry | 1,600 | 1,400 | 2,000 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,400 | 1,300 | 1,200 | 1,100 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Asphalt Paving Industry | 1,200 | 1,100 | 1,200 | 1,500 | 1,300 | 1,100 | 1,000 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Cement and Concrete Industry | 42,000 | 45,000 | 54,000 | 33,000 | 32,000 | 35,000 | 32,000 | 31,000 | 35,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Foundries | 490 | 640 | 530 | 150 | 140 | 140 | 140 | 140 | 140 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron and Steel Industries | 19,000 | 16,000 | 13,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron Ore Industry | 10,000 | 10,000 | 9,800 | 14,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mineral Products Industry | 1,500 | 780 | 1,100 | 370 | 370 | 450 | 520 | 540 | 460 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mining and Rock Quarrying | 25,000 | 21,000 | 23,000 | 23,000 | 24,000 | 24,000 | 22,000 | 23,000 | 20,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Non-Ferrous Mining and Smelting Industry | 4,300 | 3,800 | 2,000 | 1,600 | 1,600 | 1,500 | 1,600 | 1,600 | 1,600 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Empty | 340,000 | 460,000 | 440,000 | 460,000 | 470,000 | 460,000 | 460,000 | 470,000 | 470,000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Downstream Petroleum Industry | 34,000 | 29,000 | 29,000 | 20,000 | 19,000 | 19,000 | 18,000 | 17,000 | 17,000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Petroleum Product Transportation and Distribution | 24,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 24,000 | 21,000 | 18,000 | 20,000 | 22,000 | 21,000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Upstream Petroleum Industry | 290,000 | 390,000 | 370,000 | 420,000 | 430,000 | 420,000 | 420,000 | 430,000 | 430,000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Empty | 250,000 | 310,000 | 250,000 | 230,000 | 200,000 | 170,000 | 160,000 | 170,000 | 150,000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Coal | 210,000 | 230,000 | 190,000 | 150,000 | 130,000 | 130,000 | 120,000 | 130,000 | 110,000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Diesel | 3,000 | 8,200 | 7,600 | 8,500 | 8,000 | 7,800 | 8,000 | 8,600 | 9,100 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Natural Gas | 16,000 | 45,000 | 31,000 | 61,000 | 49,000 | 22,000 | 21,000 | 18,000 | 16,000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Waste Materials | 240 | 800 | 330 | 350 | 430 | 450 | 370 | 340 | 420 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Other Electric Power Generation | 28,000 | 28,000 | 21,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 8,600 | 11,000 | 11,000 |
| Manufacturing | Empty | 190,000 | 180,000 | 130,000 | 68,000 | 70,000 | 68,000 | 69,000 | 68,000 | 74,000 |
| Manufacturing | Abrasives Manufacture | 240 | 90 | 74 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Bakeries | 4.1 | 4 | - | 0.7 | 1 | 0.86 | 1.1 | 1 | 0.89 |
| Manufacturing | Biofuel Production | - | - | - | 22 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 |
| Manufacturing | Chemicals Industry | 41,000 | 47,000 | 36,000 | 23,000 | 23,000 | 24,000 | 22,000 | 21,000 | 23,000 |
| Manufacturing | Electronics | 150 | 160 | 71 | 0.46 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Food Preparation | 2,400 | 2,900 | 3,100 | 1,800 | 2,000 | 1,600 | 1,700 | 1,700 | 2,000 |
| Manufacturing | Glass Manufacture | 7,000 | 7,400 | 6,100 | 940 | 940 | 900 | 920 | 890 | 920 |
| Manufacturing | Grain Processing | 1,400 | 1,300 | 1,600 | 870 | 850 | 1,000 | 950 | 1,000 | 780 |
| Manufacturing | Metal Fabrication | 5,900 | 9,100 | 1,500 | 830 | 370 | 350 | 300 | 330 | 420 |
| Manufacturing | Plastics Manufacture | 1,100 | 1,100 | 350 | 270 | 260 | 260 | 220 | 180 | 87 |
| Manufacturing | Pulp and Paper Industry | 72,000 | 49,000 | 41,000 | 30,000 | 31,000 | 29,000 | 31,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 |
| Manufacturing | Textiles | 120 | 170 | 110 | 42 | 43 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 8.2 |
| Manufacturing | Vehicle Manufacture (Engines, Parts, Assembly, Painting) | 2,300 | 3,100 | 1,400 | 670 | 630 | 500 | 560 | 540 | 550 |
| Manufacturing | Wood Products | 19,000 | 24,000 | 21,000 | 9,600 | 9,900 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 12,000 | 16,000 |
| Manufacturing | Other Manufacturing Industries | 33,000 | 30,000 | 21,000 | 250 | 190 | 170 | 140 | 140 | 160 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Empty | 1,400,000 | 1,800,000 | 1,400,000 | 1,200,000 | 1,200,000 | 1,100,000 | 1,100,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Air Transportation | 52,000 | 64,000 | 67,000 | 60,000 | 60,000 | 69,000 | 72,000 | 73,000 | 73,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty diesel vehicles | 310,000 | 420,000 | 410,000 | 330,000 | 320,000 | 300,000 | 290,000 | 270,000 | 250,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty gasoline vehicles | 62,000 | 83,000 | 60,000 | 45,000 | 41,000 | 41,000 | 40,000 | 38,000 | 37,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty LPG/NG vehicles | 17,000 | 38,000 | 4,800 | 1,300 | 360 | 250 | 140 | 940 | 200 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty diesel trucks | 830 | 1,500 | 1,900 | 1,400 | 1,300 | 1,200 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty diesel vehicles | 2,400 | 2,300 | 1,200 | 1,000 | 1,100 | 970 | 980 | 920 | 870 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty gasoline trucks | 100,000 | 200,000 | 130,000 | 91,000 | 81,000 | 75,000 | 71,000 | 64,000 | 60,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty gasoline vehicles | 210,000 | 230,000 | 120,000 | 72,000 | 62,000 | 56,000 | 52,000 | 46,000 | 42,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG trucks | 9,000 | 6,700 | 2,800 | 430 | 150 | 94 | 48 | 33 | 32 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG vehicles | 970 | 830 | 300 | 35 | 5 | 3 | 1.2 | 0.91 | 0.87 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Marine Transportation | 140,000 | 190,000 | 210,000 | 210,000 | 210,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 | 230,000 | 240,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Motorcycles | 340 | 450 | 530 | 580 | 580 | 590 | 580 | 580 | 590 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road diesel vehicles and equipment | 320,000 | 350,000 | 280,000 | 250,000 | 220,000 | 190,000 | 180,000 | 170,000 | 170,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road gasoline/LPG/CNG vehicles and equipment | 37,000 | 28,000 | 23,000 | 28,000 | 27,000 | 27,000 | 26,000 | 29,000 | 30,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Rail Transportation | 160,000 | 150,000 | 130,000 | 110,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 130,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Tire Wear and Brake Lining | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Empty | 2,100 | 2,200 | 2,000 | 3,300 | 3,900 | 3,900 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Agriculture | Animal Production | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Crop Production | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Fuel Use | 2,100 | 2,200 | 2,000 | 3,300 | 3,900 | 3,900 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Empty | 87,000 | 90,000 | 86,000 | 79,000 | 83,000 | 78,000 | 79,000 | 82,000 | 82,000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Cigarette Smoking | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion | 23,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 | 25,000 | 27,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 27,000 | 27,000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial Cooking | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Construction Fuel Combustion | 3,900 | 2,000 | 3,000 | 3,300 | 2,500 | 1,700 | 1,600 | 1,700 | 1,700 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Home Firewood Burning | 25,000 | 23,000 | 19,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Human | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Marine Cargo Handling | 0.2 | 0.059 | - | - | - | - | 29 | 31 | 26 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Residential Fuel Combustion | 35,000 | 35,000 | 34,000 | 32,000 | 34,000 | 31,000 | 32,000 | 34,000 | 34,000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Service Stations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Other Miscellaneous Sources | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Incineration and Waste | Empty | 8,200 | 7,800 | 8,500 | 5,100 | 4,700 | 4,800 | 5,300 | 5,000 | 4,900 |
| Incineration and Waste | Crematoriums | 8.2 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| Incineration and Waste | Industrial and Commercial Incineration | 62 | 62 | 61 | 530 | 530 | 530 | 530 | 530 | 530 |
| Incineration and Waste | Municipal Incineration | 1,000 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,200 | 1,100 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 930 | 740 |
| Incineration and Waste | Waste | 6,900 | 6,400 | 6,900 | 3,000 | 2,600 | 2,700 | 3,100 | 3,100 | 3,200 |
| Incineration and Waste | Other Incineration and Utilities | 250 | 250 | 360 | 390 | 390 | 390 | 390 | 390 | 390 |
| Paints and Solvents | Empty | 110 | 120 | 130 | 29 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
| Paints and Solvents | Dry Cleaning | 1.1 | 1.6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paints and Solvents | General Solvent Use | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paints and Solvents | Printing | 110 | 120 | 130 | 29 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
| Paints and Solvents | Surface Coatings | 0.12 | 0.12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Empty | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Coal Transportation | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Construction Operations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Mine Tailings | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Paved Roads | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Unpaved Roads | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fires | Empty | 7,500 | 1,400 | 890 | 790 | 1,300 | 1,500 | 650 | 2,600 | 2,000 |
| Fires | Prescribed Forest Burning | 7,400 | 1,400 | 850 | 750 | 1,300 | 1,500 | 610 | 2,600 | 2,000 |
| Fires | Structural Fires | 49 | 39 | 35 | 34 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 28 | 27 |
Notes:
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
- denotes no emissions.
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