Archived: Air Pollutant Emission Inventory report: chapter 2.4
2.4 Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
In 2015, approximately 1.9 Mt of VOCs were released in Canada (Table 2-6). The oil and gas industry was the largest contributor at 37% (690 kt) of total emissions (with the upstream petroleum industry emitting 36% (670 kt) of total VOCs). Paints and solvents were the next-largest contributor, accounting for 18% (330 kt) of emissions, with general solvent use accounting for 13% (250 kt) of the national total. Transportation and mobile equipment sources accounted for 17% (310 kt) of emissions, with off-road gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles and equipment contributing 8% (140 kt) of the national total. Commercial/residential/institutional sources represented 15% (290 kt) of VOC emissions, mainly attributed to home firewood burning (12% or 230 kt). The other contributing VOC sources are manufacturing, agriculture, incineration and waste, ore and mineral industries, and fires. Of these, manufacturing sources accounted for 6% (110 kt) and agricultural sources for 5% (98 kt) of total VOC emissions.
Between 1990 and 2015, VOC emissions decreased by 36% (1.0 Mt) (Figure 2-4). The most significant driver of this trend is a persistent decrease in emissions from off-road gasoline, LPG or CNG vehicles and equipment throughout the time series, due to increasingly stringent regulations on spark-ignition engines. Emissions from light-duty gasoline vehicles and trucks also contributed to this trend, with a consistent decrease in emissions throughout the time series.
Although emissions from most sources decreased, the oil and gas industry experienced an overall increase in emissions between 1990 and 2015. The downstream petroleum industry declined overall in VOC emissions from 1990 to 2006, with emissions remaining relatively stable after that time, but the upstream petroleum industry experienced increased emissions, which were more pronounced from 2012 to 2014. This increase is attributed to expansion and growth in the industry. In 2015, VOC emissions from the upstream petroleum industry declined compared to 2014, due to declining conventional production and decreased drilling activity.
The most significant changes in VOC emissions from 1990 to 2015 include:
- Transportation and mobile equipment source emissions: decrease of 71% (790 kt)
- Off-road gasoline/LPG/CNG vehicles and equipment: decrease of 76% (450kt)
- Light-duty gasoline vehicles and trucks: decrease of 72% (240 kt)
- Oil and gas industry source emissions: increase of 18% (100 kt)
- Upstream petroleum industry: increase of 43% (200 kt)
- Downstream petroleum industry: decrease of 80% (96 kt)
Long description for figure 2-4
| 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 - Home Firewood Burning | 356.4688 | 351.4329 | 335.9278 | 352.0854 | 358.4497 | 342.0772 | 338.4051 | 322.5918 | 341.9709 | 325.0361 | 313.5554 | 289.6887 | 313.2334 | 269.4505 | 261.4567 | 246.2989 | 237.6729 | 234.8813 | 235.2672 | 224.3326 | 235.8964 | 235.1911 | 234.413 | 232.9933 | 231.4646 | 229.9923 |
| Sector 2 - Upstream Petroleum Industry | 466.2846 | 468.6592 | 488.0488 | 518.3672 | 533.92 | 557.253 | 589.8572 | 582.4197 | 597.8863 | 557.8953 | 578.3054 | 596.1766 | 608.1963 | 609.4847 | 601.9474 | 604.2125 | 630.9423 | 625.527 | 632.5059 | 593.9172 | 600.2938 | 596.2351 | 655.7495 | 702.2274 | 722.3389 | 668.0669 |
| Sector 3 - Transportation and Mobile Equipment | 1057.11 | 1147.212 | 1149.256 | 1141.462 | 1132.414 | 1126.066 | 1108.368 | 1056.08 | 1017.928 | 937.1278 | 873.385 | 722.3457 | 722.5467 | 687.9352 | 683.5392 | 599.2984 | 570.652 | 550.6654 | 540.5936 | 490.3334 | 474.7084 | 387.0896 | 356.4703 | 334.1169 | 323.0995 | 311.5988 |
| Sector 4 - General Solvent Use | 189.0805 | 188.8074 | 195.9523 | 199.7688 | 209.751 | 225.3451 | 230.9139 | 234.4971 | 235.526 | 244.8754 | 257.5232 | 244.6708 | 237.5303 | 243.5445 | 242.4884 | 246.4518 | 241.9687 | 243.1645 | 242.1406 | 224.9903 | 233.0994 | 225.3483 | 230.4899 | 236.5675 | 244.2909 | 247.6828 |
| Sector 5 - Other | 816.9423 | 798.5066 | 774.1859 | 804.7215 | 800.8566 | 777.8335 | 756.9084 | 739.1679 | 747.4117 | 744.8208 | 725.9229 | 679.9744 | 671.1605 | 661.4113 | 627.9089 | 611.2564 | 517.6685 | 493.9575 | 465.7397 | 429.347 | 429.0297 | 420.7001 | 415.4194 | 407.85 | 408.6573 | 401.3214 |
| Source | Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Total | 2,900,000 | 2,700,000 | 2,300,000 | 2,000,000 | 1,900,000 | 1,900,000 | 1,900,000 | 1,900,000 | 1,900,000 | |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Empty | 21,000 | 20,000 | 17,000 | 15,000 | 16,000 | 14,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Aluminium Industry | 710 | 1,100 | 1,200 | 1,400 | 1,500 | 1,300 | 1,400 | 970 | 930 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Asphalt Paving Industry | 6,600 | 6,400 | 6,100 | 9,200 | 9,500 | 7,900 | 7,100 | 8,500 | 8,500 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Cement and Concrete Industry | 670 | 770 | 1,300 | 330 | 370 | 440 | 480 | 460 | 450 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Foundries | 1,700 | 1,100 | 920 | 500 | 560 | 580 | 520 | 450 | 380 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron and Steel Industries | 5,800 | 4,200 | 2,000 | 1,000 | 1,400 | 1,300 | 920 | 1,100 | 870 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron Ore Industry | 570 | 3,200 | 1,600 | 49 | 38 | 170 | 290 | 320 | 300 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mineral Products Industry | 220 | 330 | 280 | 110 | 95 | 74 | 100 | 120 | 110 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mining and Rock Quarrying | 4,100 | 3,200 | 3,300 | 2,400 | 2,600 | 1,900 | 1,800 | 1,600 | 1,900 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Non-Ferrous Mining and Smelting Industry | 330 | 37 | 52 | 73 | 73 | 65 | 70 | 66 | 67 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Empty | 590,000 | 660,000 | 660,000 | 630,000 | 620,000 | 680,000 | 730,000 | 750,000 | 690,000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Downstream Petroleum Industry | 120,000 | 76,000 | 55,000 | 28,000 | 27,000 | 25,000 | 26,000 | 24,000 | 24,000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Petroleum Product Transportation and Distribution | 1,800 | 3,400 | 2,200 | 930 | 1,300 | 1,100 | 1,300 | 1,300 | 1,100 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Upstream Petroleum Industry | 470,000 | 580,000 | 600,000 | 600,000 | 600,000 | 660,000 | 700,000 | 720,000 | 670,000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Empty | 2,400 | 3,200 | 3,100 | 2,200 | 1,900 | 1,400 | 1,600 | 1,600 | 1,600 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Coal | 1,300 | 970 | 1,300 | 440 | 360 | 380 | 390 | 450 | 410 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Diesel | 77 | 280 | 220 | 200 | 54 | 53 | 53 | 46 | 84 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Natural Gas | 390 | 1,100 | 1,300 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 530 | 560 | 550 | 570 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Waste Materials | 17 | 17 | 4.2 | 20 | 15 | 160 | 290 | 300 | 290 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Other Electric Power Generation | 630 | 770 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 250 | 290 | 270 | 220 |
| Manufacturing | Empty | 260,000 | 260,000 | 190,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | 110,000 | 110,000 |
| Manufacturing | Abrasives Manufacture | 1,500 | 590 | 610 | 100 | 30 | 90 | 94 | 59 | 18 |
| Manufacturing | Bakeries | 3,500 | 4,400 | 7,400 | 9,700 | 8,900 | 7,700 | 7,400 | 8,300 | 9,100 |
| Manufacturing | Biofuel Production | - | - | - | 70 | 97 | 100 | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Manufacturing | Chemicals Industry | 47,000 | 36,000 | 25,000 | 13,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 14,000 | 13,000 | 10,000 |
| Manufacturing | Electronics | 1,300 | 540 | 320 | 20 | 98 | 41 | 36 | 33 | 20 |
| Manufacturing | Food Preparation | 10,000 | 13,000 | 15,000 | 18,000 | 17,000 | 16,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| Manufacturing | Glass Manufacture | 2,000 | 2,300 | 600 | 280 | 260 | 260 | 280 | 240 | 200 |
| Manufacturing | Grain Processing | 2,200 | 2,300 | 2,200 | 2,900 | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,500 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| Manufacturing | Metal Fabrication | 9,300 | 14,000 | 12,000 | 5,500 | 5,800 | 5,500 | 5,200 | 4,400 | 4,800 |
| Manufacturing | Plastics Manufacture | 14,000 | 17,000 | 15,000 | 12,000 | 14,000 | 15,000 | 13,000 | 11,000 | 12,000 |
| Manufacturing | Pulp and Paper Industry | 27,000 | 24,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 | 19,000 | 18,000 | 16,000 | 14,000 | 13,000 |
| Manufacturing | Textiles | 870 | 1,500 | 840 | 570 | 700 | 530 | 490 | 570 | 620 |
| Manufacturing | Vehicle Manufacture (Engines, Parts, Assembly, Painting) | 21,000 | 21,000 | 16,000 | 7,700 | 7,600 | 8,100 | 8,000 | 7,500 | 7,700 |
| Manufacturing | Wood Products | 110,000 | 110,000 | 77,000 | 34,000 | 31,000 | 35,000 | 36,000 | 36,000 | 33,000 |
| Manufacturing | Other Manufacturing Industries | 11,000 | 21,000 | 5,600 | 1,300 | 1,300 | 1,100 | 1,400 | 1,300 | 1,300 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Empty | 1,100,000 | 870,000 | 600,000 | 470,000 | 390,000 | 360,000 | 330,000 | 320,000 | 310,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Air Transportation | 5,200 | 6,000 | 5,400 | 5,900 | 5,800 | 6,400 | 6,300 | 6,200 | 6,200 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty diesel vehicles | 11,000 | 18,000 | 25,000 | 23,000 | 22,000 | 21,000 | 20,000 | 19,000 | 17,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty gasoline vehicles | 24,000 | 29,000 | 22,000 | 16,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty LPG/NG vehicles | 8,100 | 13,000 | 2,600 | 720 | 190 | 120 | 65 | 400 | 83 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty diesel trucks | 810 | 990 | 1,500 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 980 | 950 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty diesel vehicles | 2,400 | 1,600 | 930 | 800 | 860 | 800 | 790 | 770 | 760 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty gasoline trucks | 94,000 | 110,000 | 81,000 | 64,000 | 58,000 | 55,000 | 53,000 | 49,000 | 48,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty gasoline vehicles | 240,000 | 150,000 | 95,000 | 64,000 | 57,000 | 53,000 | 50,000 | 46,000 | 44,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG trucks | 9,600 | 4,200 | 1,800 | 320 | 110 | 74 | 39 | 28 | 29 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG vehicles | 1,300 | 600 | 250 | 33 | 4.9 | 3 | 1.3 | 0.96 | 0.98 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Marine Transportation | 5,800 | 7,600 | 8,600 | 8,500 | 8,800 | 9,100 | 9,400 | 9,700 | 10,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Motorcycles | 1,700 | 1,800 | 1,800 | 1,800 | 1,800 | 1,800 | 1,700 | 1,700 | 1,700 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road diesel vehicles and equipment | 52,000 | 52,000 | 37,000 | 30,000 | 25,000 | 21,000 | 20,000 | 19,000 | 19,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road gasoline/LPG/CNG vehicles and equipment | 590,000 | 470,000 | 310,000 | 250,000 | 190,000 | 170,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 | 140,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Rail Transportation | 6,800 | 6,300 | 6,200 | 5,700 | 6,200 | 6,200 | 6,000 | 6,200 | 6,300 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Tire Wear and Brake Lining | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Empty | 94,000 | 110,000 | 110,000 | 100,000 | 99,000 | 99,000 | 99,000 | 99,000 | 98,000 |
| Agriculture | Animal Production | 94,000 | 110,000 | 110,000 | 100,000 | 99,000 | 99,000 | 99,000 | 99,000 | 98,000 |
| Agriculture | Crop Production | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Fuel Use | 81 | 91 | 78 | 110 | 140 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Empty | 450,000 | 410,000 | 330,000 | 300,000 | 290,000 | 290,000 | 290,000 | 290,000 | 290,000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Cigarette Smoking | 13 | 12 | 8.8 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion | 1,000 | 1,400 | 1,400 | 1,200 | 1,300 | 1,200 | 1,300 | 1,300 | 1,300 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial Cooking | 2,000 | 2,300 | 2,500 | 2,600 | 2,500 | 2,500 | 2,500 | 2,400 | 2,400 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Construction Fuel Combustion | 71 | 33 | 49 | 55 | 43 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Home Firewood Burning | 360,000 | 310,000 | 250,000 | 240,000 | 240,000 | 230,000 | 230,000 | 230,000 | 230,000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Human | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Marine Cargo Handling | 0.34 | 0.92 | 1.9 | 19 | 17 | 10 | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Residential Fuel Combustion | 1,500 | 1,700 | 1,700 | 1,600 | 1,700 | 1,600 | 1,700 | 1,800 | 1,800 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Service Stations | 87,000 | 90,000 | 81,000 | 54,000 | 52,000 | 50,000 | 49,000 | 49,000 | 50,000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Other Miscellaneous Sources | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Incineration and Waste | Empty | 17,000 | 16,000 | 17,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 |
| Incineration and Waste | Crematoriums | 0.95 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2 | 2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| Incineration and Waste | Industrial and Commercial Incineration | 5 | 4 | 7.1 | 710 | 650 | 650 | 650 | 650 | 650 |
| Incineration and Waste | Municipal Incineration | 4,000 | 4,000 | 3,900 | 420 | 380 | 260 | 57 | 230 | 210 |
| Incineration and Waste | Waste | 13,000 | 12,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 12,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 |
| Incineration and Waste | Other Incineration and Utilities | 90 | 90 | 130 | 140 | 140 | 140 | 140 | 140 | 140 |
| Paints and Solvents | Empty | 360,000 | 400,000 | 370,000 | 320,000 | 300,000 | 310,000 | 310,000 | 320,000 | 330,000 |
| Paints and Solvents | Dry Cleaning | 740 | 790 | 200 | 410 | 190 | 190 | 200 | 200 | 180 |
| Paints and Solvents | General Solvent Use | 190,000 | 260,000 | 250,000 | 230,000 | 230,000 | 230,000 | 240,000 | 240,000 | 250,000 |
| Paints and Solvents | Printing | 37,000 | 48,000 | 43,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 19,000 | 18,000 | 17,000 | 17,000 |
| Paints and Solvents | Surface Coatings | 130,000 | 89,000 | 77,000 | 63,000 | 59,000 | 60,000 | 59,000 | 61,000 | 61,000 |
| Dust | Empty | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Coal Transportation | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Construction Operations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Mine Tailings | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Paved Roads | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Unpaved Roads | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fires | Empty | 41,000 | 4,200 | 3,400 | 2,400 | 4,200 | 7,100 | 2,000 | 8,100 | 5,900 |
| Fires | Prescribed Forest Burning | 40,000 | 3,900 | 3,100 | 2,100 | 3,900 | 6,800 | 1,700 | 7,900 | 5,700 |
| Fires | Structural Fires | 390 | 310 | 280 | 270 | 310 | 310 | 310 | 220 | 210 |
Notes:
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
- denotes no emissions.
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