The National Pollutants Release Inventory: formaldehyde
Background
Every year, a number of facilities across Canada must report the pollutants they release into the air, water, and land, as well as pollutants disposed and transferred, to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI). The information collected is publicly available, and can help governments set environmental priorities and monitor environmental performance. Canadians can also use this information to learn about pollution in their environment.
This substance overview explores formaldehyde released, disposed of and transferred by various industries in Canada. It also summarizes what facilities do to mitigate their environmental impacts.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound made of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. It is a colourless gas used in making building materials and household products. There are a number of industrial uses for formaldehyde including resins, fertilizers, additives in paper production, and drilling fluids for oil extraction. It can be released from sources such as cigarette smoke and unvented fuel-burning appliances. Formaldehyde is also produced naturally in small amounts as part of a cell metabolism in bacteria, plants, fish, animals, and humans. In 2001, Environment Canada and Health Canada completed a risk assessment for formaldehyde and concluded that it could be harmful, even in small amounts, to human health and the environment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA).
Effects on human health
While natural sources (e.g., forest fires) release greater quantities of formaldehyde than human sources, the highest measured concentrations occur near anthropogenic sources. Thus, these sources are the main concern for human health and the environment.
Formaldehyde is commonly found in the indoor air of homes, resulting from off-gassing (i.e., when construction or household materials release it) or through combustion (i.e., burning materials such as tobacco smoke or fireplaces). Health Canada found that the average levels of formaldehyde concentrations in Canadian homes were below the recommended long-term exposure limit. The risk of serious health effects from concentrations found in most Canadian homes was very low.
Formaldehyde is classified as “carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Exposure to high concentrations of formaldehyde, typically found in certain workplace environments, can lead to cancer in the nasal passageways when workers are regularly exposed over several years. However, provinces have established formaldehyde occupational exposure limits to ensure worker protection. Concentrations at these high levels were not found in Canadian homes in Health Canada studies.
Formaldehyde can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. Long-term exposure to moderate concentrations (i.e., levels lower than those causing irritation) may worsen asthma symptoms and be linked to other respiratory symptoms and sensitivities.
When animals and aquatic life are exposed to formaldehyde, it may make them sick, affect their ability to breed and reduce their life spans. It may also change their behaviour and appearance.
Reporting facilities
In 2020, 141 NPRI facilities reported a release, disposal or transfer of formaldehyde, shown by sector in the map below. Among these facilities, the industrial sectors that had the highest amount of formaldehyde reports were:
- wood products (34 facilities)
- pulp and paper (25 facilities)
- chemicals (23 facilities)
- conventional oil and gas extraction (14 facilities)
For tips on how to use and understand NPRI data, please see our Guide on Using and Interpreting NPRI Data.
Facilities that Reported Formaldehyde by Sector in 2020
Long description
Map showing the location of facilities that reported formaldehyde by sector in 2020.
You can find the data used to create this map using our single year data tables.
Total releases
In 2020, 1,979 tonnes of formaldehyde were released by facilities that reported to the NPRI. This represents approximately a 66% increase from 2011 levels (1,189 tonnes). The number of facilities reporting formaldehyde from 2011 to 2020 has increased from 126 to 141 facilities. The amount being reported has also increased significantly for the wood products (725 to 1,271 tonnes) and the conventional oil and gas extraction (58 to 340 tonnes) sectors. There are various reasons why substance releases may increase over time, such as increased number of reporting facilities, increased production levels or improved technology to calculate emissions over the years.
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Report year | Total release to all media (<1 tonne) |
Total water |
Total air | Total all releases |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | 3 | 40 | 1,146 | 1,189 |
2012 | 4 | 39 | 1,125 | 1,168 |
2013 |
2 | 42 | 1,287 | 1,331 |
2014 |
4 | 43 | 1,325 | 1,371 |
2015 | 6 |
39 | 1,454 | 1,499 |
2016 | 5 | 43 | 1,556 | 1,603 |
2017 | 6 | 32 | 1,571 | 1,609 |
2018 | 5 | 32 | 1,880 | 1,917 |
2019 | 3 | 42 | 1,918 | 1,963 |
2020 | 4 | 38 | 1,937 | 1,979 |
*Land releases were only reported in 2013 and 2020 in small amounts (< 0.02 tonnes) and therefore were omitted from the graph.
The sector reporting formaldehyde in the highest quantity to the NPRI in 2020 was wood products (1,271 tonnes). This sector consists of composite wood product manufacturers and sawmills. Composite wood products are known to contain formaldehyde, which is typically emitted by drying and pressing. It can also be released when the wood is introduced to very high temperatures. See below for the breakdown of total releases of formaldehyde by sector.
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Sector | Quantity (tonnes) |
---|---|
Water and wastewater systems |
0.006 |
Transportation equipment mfg. | 0.01 |
Oil and gas pipelines and storage |
0.02 |
Other (except manufacturing) | 0.1 |
Mining and quarrying | 0.1 |
Cement, lime and other non-metallic minerals | 0.3 |
Petroleum and coal products refining and mfg. | 1 |
Waste treatment and disposal | 1 |
Electricity | 23 |
Other manufacturing | 27 |
Chemicals | 57 |
Non-conventional oil extraction (including oilsands and heavy oil) |
104 |
Pulp and paper | 154 |
Conventional oil and gas extraction |
340 |
Wood products | 1,271 |
In 2020, air releases represented 98% of total releases of formaldehyde by facilities in Canada, while water releases contributed to the rest (2%). Releases to land were negligible.
A number of provinces and one territory reported releases of formaldehyde in 2020. Ontario is the province with the highest reported releases of formaldehyde with 645 tonnes, which is 33% of the 1,979 releases reported in 2020. This is mainly due to the wood products sector, more specifically, from particle board and fibreboard mills and waferboard mills. These facilities reported 599 of the 645 tonnes for the province of Ontario. Quantities for other provinces are:
- Alberta, 31% (612 tonnes)
- Québec, 12% (231 tonnes)
- British Columbia, 12% (230 tonnes)
- New Brunswick, 9% (174 tonnes)
- Saskatchewan, 1.9% (44 tonnes)
- Nova Scotia, 0.9% (19 tonnes)
- Newfoundland and Labrador, 0.7% (15 tonnes)
- Yukon, 0.5% (10 tonnes)
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Province |
Quantity (tonnes) |
---|---|
Ontario |
645 |
Alberta |
612 |
Québec | 231 |
British Columbia |
230 |
New Brunswick |
174 |
Saskatchewan |
44 |
Nova Scotia |
19 |
Newfoundland and Labrador |
15 |
Yukon |
10 |
Manitoba |
0.4 |
The main source of formaldehyde releases reported to the NPRI is air releases. In 2020, total releases to air amounting to 1,937 tonnes – a nearly 70% increase since 2011 (1,146 tonnes). This represents 98% of total releases in 2020. The majority of these releases come from the wood products sector (1,270 tonnes). Formaldehyde from wood products plants can be emitted by drying and pressing, as well as from the use of formaldehyde-based resins.
Long description
Report year | Releases to air |
---|---|
2011 | 1,146 |
2012 | 1,125 |
2013 |
1,287 |
2014 |
1,325 |
2015 | 1,454 |
2016 | 1,556 |
2017 | 1,571 |
2018 | 1,880 |
2019 | 1,918 |
2020 | 1,937 |
In 2020, 38 tonnes of formaldehyde was released to water, primarily from the pulp and paper sector. Throughout the years, water releases of formaldehyde reported to the NPRI has been relatively consistent, ranging from 32 to 43 tonnes in the past ten years. These releases almost entirely come from the pulp and paper sector due to waste from the facilities’ processes and machinery.
The graph below indicates releases to water over a ten year span.
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Report year | Releases to water |
---|---|
2011 | 40 |
2012 | 39 |
2013 |
42 |
2014 |
43 |
2015 | 39 |
2016 | 43 |
2017 | 32 |
2018 | 32 |
2019 | 42 |
2020 | 38 |
Disposals
Disposals typically vary from year to year. There are a number of factors contributing to the increase or decrease of total formaldehyde disposals, for example:
- production levels at the facility
- the captured substance (i.e., formaldehyde) may be transferred or recycled instead of being disposed
- pollution prevention activities, such as new technology and machinery upgrades capturing the substance before it is released and facilities ultimately dispose of the substance.
In 2020, the most common disposal method of formaldehyde was to a landfill, which made up around 79% of the total disposals. Other types of disposal methods for formaldehyde include underground injection and land treatment:
- landfill (63 tonnes)
- underground Injection (15.5 tonnes)
- land treatment (1.4 tonnes)
Long description
Report year | Total disposals |
---|---|
2011 | 188 |
2012 | 165 |
2013 |
69 |
2014 |
41 |
2015 | 48 |
2016 | 47 |
2017 | 47 |
2018 | 30 |
2019 | 121 |
2020 | 80 |
Transfers for treatment and recycling
In 2020, 73 tonnes of formaldehyde were transferred off-site for treatment or recycling by facilities that reported to the NPRI. This represents a 30% decrease from 2011 levels (104 tonnes). Reasons of variations in transfer of formaldehyde may include:
- change in operations of the facility
- change in estimation methods
- change in waste generated
- change in products used for treatment
- cleaning of equipment or machinery
The majority of formaldehyde was transferred off-site for treatment and came from the waste treatment and disposal sector.
Long description
Report year | Total transfers |
---|---|
2011 | 104 |
2012 | 93 |
2013 |
99 |
2014 |
105 |
2015 | 89 |
2016 | 63 |
2017 | 59 |
2018 | 80 |
2019 | 52 |
2020 | 73 |
Government measures
The Government of Canada has developed tools to manage risks associated with formaldehyde, including:
- Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations
- CCPA And Governments Of Canada, Ontario And Alberta Memorandum Of Understanding For Environmental Protection Through Action Under CCPA Responsible Care
- Environmental Emergency Regulations
- Marine Spark-Ignition Engine Vessel and Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Emission Regulations
- On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations
- Off-Road Compression-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations
- Off-Road Small Spark-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations
- Canada Consumer Product Safety Act
Visit the Toxic Substances List: Formaldehyde page and the Formaldehyde page for more information on risk assessment and risk management tools.
Pollution prevention activities
Facilities can do a number of things to prevent pollution and waste at the source. Examples of pollution prevention activities that facilities have used to target formaldehyde include:
- materials substitution
- recovery, re-use or recycling of formaldehyde-containing waste
- equipment, process or product design modifications
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Health Canada and Wood Preservation Canada have created a document outlining best practices that can be used for emissions from wood preservation facilities. Recommendations for the Design and Operation of Wood Preservation Facilities (Technical Recommendations Document) outlines a number of pollution prevention activities and seeks to:
- reduce or eliminate the release of wood preservative chemicals to the environment
- minimize exposure of workers to wood preservative chemicals.
Learn more about pollution prevention and how facilities and individuals can help protect their environment.
Pollution in your neighbourhood
You can identify the facilities and pollutants in your community by entering your postal code in the NPRI online data search.
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