Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2024: chapter 2.11

2.11 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

The APEI reports emissions of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)p), benzo(b)fluoranthene (B(b)f), benzo(k)fluoranthene (B(k)f) and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene (I(cd)p). The analysis presented here is based on the aggregate total of all four substances. In 2022, 55 t of PAHs were emitted in Canada (Table 2–13), with 92% (50 t) attributed to Commercial/Residential/Institutional sources. This is almost entirely due to Home Firewood Burning, this sector being the largest contributor to PAH emissions since 2004, with 92% (50 t) of 2022 total emissions. Transportation and Mobile Equipment was the next largest source, contributing 3.9% (2.2 t) of PAH emissions in 2022.

From 1990 to 2022, PAH emissions decreased by 81% (227 t) (Figure 2–11), primarily owing to emission reductions in the Aluminium Industry and Iron and Steel Industry sectors of almost 100% each (109 t and 79 t, respectively). Emissions from Aluminium Industry experienced a large drop in PAH emissions from 2008 to 2016 owing to process improvements and the progressive phase-out of old Söderberg aluminium production technologies (ECCC, 2014). Emissions of these four types of PAHs from Iron and Steel Industry dropped significantly earlier in the time series, from 1993 to 2006, and emissions remained small through 2022. Reductions here are a result of effective emission controls on coke ovens and coke by-product plants (EC, 2001).

Within Commercial/Residential/Institutional sources, Home Firewood Burning contributed to the downward trend across the 1990-2022 time-series. Emissions increased from 1990 to 1997, fluctuated until 2014 and have since then constantly decreased, resulting in an overall decrease in emissions of 28% (20 t). This decrease is owed to a 32% reduction in wood consumption and the adoption of more efficient wood combustion equipment. PAH emissions from Transportation and Mobile Equipment have decreased across the time series owing to increasingly stringent engine and vehicle regulations.Footnote 10

The most significant changes in PAH emissions from 1990 to 2022 include:

 Figure 2–11: Trends in Canadian Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Emissions (1990 to 2022)

Figure 2–11: Trends in Canadian Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Emissions (1990 to 2022)
Long description for Figure 2-11

Figure 2–11 is a stacked area graph displaying the five major contributors to national polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon trends. They are the following: Aluminium Industry, Iron and Steel Industry, Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks and Vehicles, Other, and Home Firewood Burning. The figure shows that the contribution of Home Firewood Burning was almost constant during the period, whereas emissions from Aluminium and Iron and Steel Industries significantly decreased between 1990 and 2022. The following table displays the contributions (t) for the years 1990 to 2022.

Figure 2–11: Trends in Canadian Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Emissions (1990 to 2022) (t)
Sector Name 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 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Home Firewood Burning 70 71 75 75 74 72 74 74 59 58 59 51 50 47 51 52 52 61 62 63 57 61 58 66 68 67 64 65 62 54 50 47 50
Other 24 26 17 26 23 24 18 12 11 9.5 8.2 7.5 8.2 18 7.0 6.4 8.0 5.0 7.5 8.7 5.3 6.2 6.4 4.1 9.6 7.6 6.4 4.2 3.0 3.5 3.0 3.0 4.3
Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks and Vehicles 8.4 7.9 7.8 8.1 8.4 8.0 7.9 7.6 7.4 7.2 6.8 6.4 6.0 5.5 5.2 4.6 4.2 4.0 3.6 3.4 3.1 2.2 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.4
Iron and Steel Industry 80 80 82 86 61 46 32 19 24 30 11 7.3 8.0 8.3 3.8 4.6 0.34 0.44 0.46 0.58 0.72 0.68 0.74 0.55 0.40 0.40 0.44 0.39 0.40 0.37 0.37 0.37 0.40
Aluminium Industry 109 90 89 89 88 87 87 86 86 85 84 84 59 63 41 45 51 41 41 27 21 22 23 31 23 4.9 0.10 0.13 0.19 0.14 0.08 0.09 0.09

Table 2-13: National Summary of Annual PAH Emissions

Ore and Mineral Industries (kg)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total 190 000 95 000 50 000 550 620 540 470 470 500
Aluminium Industry 110 000 84 000 45 000 130 190 140 83 89 89
Asphalt Paving Industry 14 14 15 10 11 10 10 11 9.9
Cement and Concrete Industry 17 13 19 0.62 0.34 0.26 0.18
Foundries 0.11 0.14
Iron and Steel Industry 80 000 11 000 4 600 390 400 370 370 370 400
Iron Ore Pelletizing 21 18 20 8.6 0.30 0.40
Mineral Products Industry 0.058 0.059 8.3
Mining and Rock Quarrying 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry 1.9 2.8 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.34 0.20
Oil and Gas Industry (kg)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total 150 95 46 18 22 470 470 480 55
Downstream Oil and Gas Industry 150 92 43 13 14 14 12 14 15
Upstream Oil and Gas Industry 2.3 3.3 2.3 4.5 7.9 450 460 470 40
Electric Power Generation (Utilities) (kg)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total 370 360 240 6.5 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.5 5.1
Coal 240 240 240
Diesel 2.9 2.3 0.23 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Landfill Gas
Natural Gas
Other (Electric Power Generation) 130 110 6.5 6.5 5.1
Manufacturing (kg)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total 320 310 290 140 130 150 160 120 120
Abrasives Manufacturing
Bakeries
Biofuel Production
Chemicals Industry 0.60 24 29 25 24 24 23 1.9 2.9
Electronics 0.00 0.00
Food Preparation
Glass Manufacturing 0.00 0.00
Grain Industry
Metal Fabrication 0.62 0.62
Plastics Manufacturing 0.00 0.00
Pulp and Paper Industry 110 130 190 110 100 120 130 110 110
Textiles
Vehicle Manufacturing (Engines, Parts, Assembly, Painting) 0.26 0.43 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Wood Products 210 150 72 6.0 6.0 5.4 4.8 8.0 8.6
Other (Manufacturing) 0.00 0.00 2.2 0.00
Transportation and Mobile Equipment (kg)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total 12 000 10 000 7 800 2 700 2 700 2 600 2 300 2 300 2 200
Air Transportation (LTO) 12 6.8 5.4 5.8 6.2 6.2 3.9 4.3 4.7
Domestic Marine Navigation, Fishing and Military 71 80 88 26 27 30 23 27 31
Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles 2 100 2 200 2 400 630 590 510 450 440 390
Heavy-Duty Gasoline Vehicles 1 300 880 660 260 260 250 230 210 190
Heavy-Duty LPG/NG Vehicles 260 11 3.9 1.7 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.6 2.7
Light-Duty Diesel Trucks 8.4 9.9 7.8 1.0 0.98 0.91 0.78 0.68 0.65
Light-Duty Diesel Vehicles 7.3 5.0 3.9 0.63 0.59 0.50 0.42 0.44 0.40
Light-Duty Gasoline Trucks 2 700 3 000 2 200 1 000 1 100 1 100 960 1 000 1 000
Light-Duty Gasoline Vehicles 5 700 3 800 2 400 660 650 630 500 480 440
Light-Duty LPG/NG Trucks 7.8 0.58 0.33 0.20 0.26 0.21 0.12 0.11 0.098
Light-Duty LPG/NG Vehicles 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Motorcycles 47 50 54 84 87 90 73 73 69
Off-Road Diesel Vehicles and Equipment
Off-Road Gasoline/LPG/NG Vehicles and Equipment
Rail Transportation 63 59 58 32 34 31 27 26 26
Tire Wear and Brake Lining
Agriculture (kg)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total 0.32 0.31 0.21 0.22 0.23 0.23 0.21 0.20 0.21
Agricultural Fuel Combustion 0.32 0.31 0.21 0.22 0.23 0.23 0.21 0.20 0.20
Animal Production
Crop Production
Commercial/Residential/Institutional (kg)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total 70 000 59 000 53 000 65 000 62 000 54 000 50 000 48 000 50 000
Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion 2.6 3.1 2.9 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.3 2.2 2.3
Commercial Cooking 100 110 120 110 110 110 110 120 120
Construction Fuel Combustion 0.45 0.19 0.41 0.23 0.22 0.25 0.33 0.28 0.25
Home Firewood Burning 70 000 59 000 52 000 65 000 62 000 54 000 50 000 47 000 50 000
Human
Marine Cargo Handling
Residential Fuel Combustion 5.3 4.6 4.3 2.9 3.0 3.0 2.8 2.6 2.7
Service Stations
Other (Miscellaneous)
Incineration and Waste (kg)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total 34 35 39 36 37 36 36 37 37
Crematoriums 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Waste Incineration 34 35 39 36 37 36 36 37 37
Waste Treatment and Disposal 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Paints and Solvents (kg)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total
Dry Cleaning
General Solvent Use
Printing
Surface Coatings
Dust (kg)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total
Coal Transportation
Construction Operations
Mine Tailings
Paved Roads
Unpaved Roads
Fires (kg)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total 9 800 2 000 1 200 1 400 820 870 700 700 1 600
Prescribed Burning 9 800 2 000 1 200 1 400 820 870 700 700 1 600
Structural Fires
Totals (kg)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Ore and Mineral Industry 190 000 95 000 50 000 550 620 540 470 470 500
Oil and Gas Industry 150 95 46 18 22 470 470 480 55
Electric Power Generation (Utilities) 370 360 240 6.5 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.5 5.1
Manufacturing 320 310 290 140 130 150 160 120 120
Transportation and Mobile Equipment 12 000 10 000 7 800 2 700 2 700 2 600 2 300 2 300 2 200
Agriculture 0.32 0.31 0.21 0.22 0.23 0.23 0.21 0.20 0.21
Commercial/Residential/Institutional 70 000 59 000 53 000 65 000 62 000 54 000 50 000 48 000 50 000
Incineration and Waste 34 35 39 36 37 36 36 37 37
Paints and Solvents
Dust
Fires 9 800 2 000 1 200 1 400 820 870 700 700 1 600
Grand Total 280 000 170 000 110 000 70 000 66 000 59 000 54 000 52 000 55 000

Notes:
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
0.00 Indicates emissions were truncated due to rounding.
— Indicates no emissions

Other emissions estimated in the APEI (kg)
Sector 1990 2000 2005 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Domestic Air Transportation (Cruise) 5.5 4.4 3.1 3.1 3.3 3.3 1.9 2.1 2.8
International Air Transportation (Cruise) 3.1 3.0 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.4 0.93 0.85 1.7
International Marine Navigation 49 68 79 44 46 38 30 32 31

Note:
Refer to Annex 4.4 for more information on international marine navigation and air transportation reporting emissions.

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