Archived: Air Pollutant Emission Inventory report: chapter 2.7
2.7 Lead (Pb)
In 2015, approximately 160 tonnes (t) of Pb were emitted in Canada (Table 2-9). Ore and mineral industries were the largest contributor at 76% (120 t) of emissions, with the non-ferrous smelting and refining industry accounting for the largest share at 69% (110 t) of total Pb emissions. Transportation and mobile equipment is the second largest contributor at 17% (27 t) of total emissions (almost all of which is from air transportation).
Lead emissions decreased by 87% (1.1 kt) from 1990 to 2015 (Figure 2-7). This trend is almost entirely driven by the non-ferrous mining and smelting industry, where emissions consistently decreased during that period. This decreasing trend can be attributed to the introduction of pollution prevention regulations limiting the concentration of Pb-containing PM emitted into ambient air and the implementation of pollution prevention strategies in operating smelters, along with the closure of outdated smelters. Reductions in emissions from mining and rock quarrying from 1990 to 1998 also influenced the overall trend, as well as slight emission reductions in air transportation across the time series.
The most significant changes in Pb emissions from 1990 to 2015 include:
- Ore and mineral industries: decrease of 89% (1.0 kt)
- Non-ferrous smelting and refining industry: decrease of 87% (770 t)
- Mining and rock quarrying: decrease of 100% (200 t)
- Transportation and mobile equipment: decrease of 65% (51 t)
- Air transportation: decrease of 65% (51 t)
Long description for figure 2-7
| 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 - Air Transportation | 78.04203 | 59.21492 | 53.32588 | 53.09835 | 52.4894 | 58.65015 | 57.01472 | 53.69685 | 55.4496 | 50.8383 | 51.0682 | 50.12865 | 49.42613 | 44.5816 | 40.66 | 47.12 | 42.085 | 43.89 | 42.465 | 40.565 | 36.575 | 29.8775 | 36.8125 | 31.16 | 26.9325 | 26.9325 |
| Sector 2 - Non-Ferrous Mining and Smelting Industry | 886.2295 | 847.4546 | 899.2029 | 476.0795 | 508.2397 | 630.6866 | 704.0448 | 593.6656 | 527.3671 | 464.7433 | 464.5072 | 397.7291 | 371.2652 | 285.6138 | 230.7876 | 185.5857 | 224.4421 | 216.2719 | 193.5991 | 181.1038 | 140.7979 | 96.23007 | 88.35452 | 74.87469 | 85.46529 | 111.846 |
| Sector 3 - Mining and Rock Quarrying | 198.6149 | 207.6751 | 204.7945 | 188.5685 | 174.7891 | 134.016 | 153.5116 | 51.91271 | 18.20195 | 27.85775 | 12.18361 | 14.81495 | 10.5479 | 10.25069 | 11.87176 | 10.73601 | 10.4258 | 11.51198 | 10.78071 | 7.81059 | 10.04172 | 9.594402 | 6.916232 | 2.968335 | 0.732514 | 0.779895 |
| Sector 4 - Other | 126.1983 | 126.1481 | 124.9822 | 122.6854 | 119.3819 | 98.00406 | 94.36447 | 86.3816 | 83.49076 | 46.9328 | 42.9425 | 63.44718 | 39.75925 | 55.27688 | 47.05864 | 34.87035 | 34.75686 | 35.45078 | 36.08433 | 28.26135 | 31.9046 | 30.3568 | 24.3734 | 20.82848 | 23.31478 | 22.31292 |
| Source | Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Total | 1,300,000 | 570,000 | 280,000 | 220,000 | 170,000 | 160,000 | 130,000 | 140,000 | 160,000 | |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Empty | 1,100,000 | 480,000 | 210,000 | 160,000 | 120,000 | 110,000 | 87,000 | 97,000 | 120,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Aluminium Industry | 84 | 84 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Asphalt Paving Industry | 1,400 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,300 | 1,300 | 990 | 980 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Cement and Concrete Industry | 550 | 610 | 970 | 620 | 640 | 620 | 530 | 600 | 870 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Foundries | 2,000 | 2,900 | 1,500 | 460 | 440 | 430 | 200 | 180 | 210 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron and Steel Industries | 54,000 | 3,500 | 5,700 | 6,300 | 6,100 | 6,700 | 5,200 | 6,100 | 5,500 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron Ore Industry | - | - | - | 2,000 | 1,800 | 1,900 | 2,100 | 2,700 | 2,600 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mineral Products Industry | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mining and Rock Quarrying | 200,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 10,000 | 9,600 | 6,900 | 3,000 | 730 | 780 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Non-Ferrous Mining and Smelting Industry | 890,000 | 460,000 | 190,000 | 140,000 | 96,000 | 88,000 | 75,000 | 85,000 | 110,000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Empty | 340 | 300 | 720 | 1,300 | 940 | 990 | 1,100 | 670 | 510 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Downstream Petroleum Industry | 200 | 81 | 450 | 440 | 330 | 320 | 380 | 300 | 320 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Petroleum Product Transportation and Distribution | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Upstream Petroleum Industry | 140 | 220 | 260 | 850 | 610 | 660 | 700 | 370 | 190 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Empty | 11,000 | 14,000 | 1,600 | 2,200 | 2,800 | 2,600 | 1,400 | 1,300 | 1,400 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Coal | 8,300 | 10,000 | 890 | 1,500 | 2,200 | 2,100 | 860 | 690 | 810 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Diesel | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Natural Gas | 430 | 530 | 69 | 170 | 160 | 89 | 85 | 93 | 97 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Waste Materials | - | - | 10 | 12 | 16 | 9 | 6.6 | 21 | 7 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Other Electric Power Generation | 2,600 | 3,200 | 590 | 500 | 450 | 320 | 430 | 490 | 530 |
| Manufacturing | Empty | 49,000 | 14,000 | 17,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 4,700 | 4,600 | 6,400 | 5,800 |
| Manufacturing | Abrasives Manufacture | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Bakeries | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Biofuel Production | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Chemicals Industry | 12,000 | 290 | 1,800 | 730 | 74 | 72 | 64 | 29 | 27 |
| Manufacturing | Electronics | 2,000 | 680 | 57 | 12 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 1.9 |
| Manufacturing | Food Preparation | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Glass Manufacture | 22 | 7.4 | 25 | 0.57 | 0.45 | 0.34 | 0.3 | 0.003 | 0.002 |
| Manufacturing | Grain Processing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Metal Fabrication | 28,000 | 9,400 | 10,000 | 8,700 | 8,800 | 2,300 | 2,200 | 3,600 | 1,900 |
| Manufacturing | Plastics Manufacture | 76 | 26 | 24 | 48 | 35 | 23 | 0.034 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Manufacturing | Pulp and Paper Industry | 2,100 | 710 | 2,400 | 1,400 | 1,500 | 1,300 | 1,400 | 2,200 | 3,400 |
| Manufacturing | Textiles | - | 0.38 | - | 1.8 | - | 0.003 | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Vehicle Manufacture (Engines, Parts, Assembly, Painting) | 910 | 310 | 770 | 170 | 95 | 61 | 65 | 67 | 67 |
| Manufacturing | Wood Products | 3,500 | 2,600 | 1,400 | 750 | 480 | 860 | 830 | 530 | 340 |
| Manufacturing | Other Manufacturing Industries | 840 | 290 | 96 | 28 | 24 | 15 | 33 | 32 | 25 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Empty | 79,000 | 52,000 | 48,000 | 37,000 | 31,000 | 38,000 | 32,000 | 28,000 | 27,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Air Transportation | 78,000 | 51,000 | 47,000 | 37,000 | 30,000 | 37,000 | 31,000 | 27,000 | 27,000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty diesel vehicles | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty gasoline vehicles | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty LPG/NG vehicles | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty diesel trucks | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty diesel vehicles | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty gasoline trucks | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty gasoline vehicles | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG trucks | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG vehicles | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Marine Transportation | 600 | 740 | 830 | 630 | 560 | 490 | 420 | 340 | 270 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Motorcycles | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road diesel vehicles and equipment | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road gasoline/LPG/CNG vehicles and equipment | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Rail Transportation | 310 | 290 | 290 | 230 | 250 | 250 | 240 | 250 | 250 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Tire Wear and Brake Lining | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Empty | 30 | 30 | 26 | 53 | 64 | 59 | 61 | 64 | 64 |
| Agriculture | Animal Production | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Crop Production | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Fuel Use | 30 | 30 | 26 | 53 | 64 | 59 | 61 | 64 | 64 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Empty | 6,300 | 4,800 | 4,500 | 4,100 | 3,900 | 4,000 | 3,500 | 3,200 | 3,200 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Cigarette Smoking | 2.3 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion | 250 | 290 | 420 | 1,100 | 920 | 1,000 | 510 | 230 | 250 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial Cooking | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Construction Fuel Combustion | 10 | 4.9 | 11 | 14 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 6 | 6.1 | 6.1 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Home Firewood Burning | 3,500 | 3,200 | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,600 | 2,600 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Human | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Marine Cargo Handling | 2,000 | 970 | 1,200 | 3 | 9.1 | 2.9 | 59 | 20 | 9.8 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Residential Fuel Combustion | 490 | 400 | 380 | 330 | 340 | 300 | 290 | 290 | 290 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Service Stations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Other Miscellaneous Sources | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Incineration and Waste | Empty | 200 | 110 | 620 | 920 | 530 | 710 | 540 | 540 | 560 |
| Incineration and Waste | Crematoriums | 2 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 5 | 5.2 | 5.5 |
| Incineration and Waste | Industrial and Commercial Incineration | - | - | 310 | 310 | 310 | 310 | 310 | 310 | 310 |
| Incineration and Waste | Municipal Incineration | 74 | 29 | 180 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Incineration and Waste | Waste | - | - | 120 | 440 | 56 | 240 | 66 | 69 | 88 |
| Incineration and Waste | Other Incineration and Utilities | 130 | 77 | 9.8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Paints and Solvents | Empty | 4.3 | 6.3 | - | 0.017 | - | - | 0.06 | 0.0023 | - |
| Paints and Solvents | Dry Cleaning | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paints and Solvents | General Solvent Use | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paints and Solvents | Printing | 4.3 | 6.3 | - | 0.017 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paints and Solvents | Surface Coatings | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.06 | 0.0023 | - |
| Dust | Empty | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Coal Transportation | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Construction Operations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Mine Tailings | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Paved Roads | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Unpaved Roads | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fires | Empty | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fires | Prescribed Forest Burning | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fires | Structural Fires | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Notes:
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
- denotes no emissions.
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