Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2025: chapter 2.1
2.1 Particulate Matter Less than or Equal to 2.5 Microns in Diameter
In 2023, approximately 1.4 megatonnes (Mt) of particulate matter less or equal to 2.5 microns in diameters (PM2.5) were emitted in Canada (Table 2–3).Footnote 5 Dust sources accounted for 63% (864 kt) of total PM2.5 emissions, with the primary dust sources being Unpaved Roads at 31% (427 kt) and Construction Operations at 30% (407 kt) of total PM2.5 emissions. Agriculture was the second-largest contributor and accounted for 25% (348 kt) of PM2.5 emissions, almost all of which are attributed to Crop Production (25% or 346 kt). In these sectors, PM is largely emitted by non-combustion sources. Commercial/Residential/Institutional sources accounted for 5.2% (72 kt) of total PM2.5 emissions in 2023, with the primary contributor being Home Firewood Burning at 3.7% (51 kt) of total PM2.5 emissions.
Total emissions of PM2.5 decreased significantly from 1990 to 2009 and, fluctuated from 2010 to 2023, increasing overall during that period (Figure 2–1). Emissions in 2023 were 15% below 1990 levels. The downward trend between 1990 to 2009 was influenced predominantly by decreasing emissions from Crop Production. Emissions from Crop Production decreased for the period from 1990 to 2011 owing to a reduction in summer fallow and the adoption of conservation tillage practices; these were offset by an increase in wind erosion emissions resulting from increased production of pulse crops until 2016 when the proportion of pulse crops began to decrease relative to other less emission intensive crops.
For the 2010–2023 period, emissions from Dust influenced the overall trend. Road Dust PM2.5 emissions increased from 1990 to 2019, on average by 2.6% per year. Emissions decreased in 2020 (by 15% compared to 2019), coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, but have since returned to an increasing trend (on average 6.9% per year). Trends in Road Dust emissions are most strongly driven by the unpaved roads, which make up most emissions from this sector (49%). Generally, emission trends are linked with changes in VKT, though other factors such as climate (rain, snow and soil moisture) contribute to variations in the trend. Dust PM2.5 emissions from Construction Operations increased from 1990 to 2014, at an average rate of 4.4% per year over that period, then decreased in 2015 and 2016, remaining relatively consistent since.
Excluding sources from road dust, construction operations and crop production, PM2.5 emissions in 2023 were 41% lower compared with 2005 levels. For example, decreases in the Transportation and Mobile Equipment category occurred, primarily due to implemented regulations that have effectively lowered PM emission rates from diesel engines.
The most significant changes in PM2.5 emissions from 1990 to 2023 include:
- Dust: increase of 81% (387 kt), with:
- Paved and Unpaved Roads: increase of 82% (205 kt)
- Construction Operations: increase of 80% (181 kt)
- Agriculture: decrease of 48% (327 kt), with:
- Crop Production: decrease of 49% (327 kt)
- Manufacturing: decrease of 87% (99 kt), with:
- Pulp and Paper Industry: decrease of 92% (56 kt)
- Commercial/Residential/Institutional: decrease of 40% (48 kt), with:
- Home Firewood Burning: decrease of 50% (50 kt)
The most significant changes in PM2.5 emissions from 2005 to 2023 include:
- Dust: increase of 34% (218 kt), with:
- Paved and Unpaved Roads: increase of 41% (134 kt)
- Construction Operations: increase of 26% (84 kt)
- Transportation and Mobile Equipment: decrease of 65% (42 kt), with:
- Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles: decrease of 82% (16 kt)
- Off-Road Diesel Vehicles and Equipment: decrease of 62% (15 kt)
- Manufacturing: decrease of 67% (30 kt), with:
- Pulp and Paper Industry: decrease of 71% (12 kt)
Figure 2–1: Trends in Canadian PM2.5 Emissions (1990 to 2023)
Long description for Figure 2-1
Figure 2–1: Trends in Canadian Particulate Matter Less Than or Equal to 2.5 Microns in Diameter Emissions for 1990 to 2023.
Figure 2–1 is a stacked area graph displaying the five major contributors to national particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) trends. They are the following: Home Firewood Burning, Other, Construction Operations, Crop Production and Paved and Unpaved Roads. The figure shows that Paved and Unpaved Roads have the biggest share in the total national PM2.5 emissions in 2023. The following table displays the contributions (kt) for the years 1990 to 2023.
| 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 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paved and Unpaved Roads | 251 | 244 | 261 | 267 | 282 | 287 | 294 | 307 | 312 | 312 | 308 | 325 | 324 | 331 | 327 | 323 | 329 | 347 | 349 | 364 | 361 | 360 | 376 | 390 | 380 | 395 | 399 | 414 | 438 | 443 | 378 | 425 | 432 | 457 |
| Crop Production | 673 | 666 | 651 | 637 | 622 | 608 | 594 | 580 | 567 | 553 | 540 | 526 | 507 | 487 | 467 | 447 | 428 | 414 | 401 | 387 | 374 | 361 | 364 | 367 | 370 | 373 | 376 | 372 | 368 | 363 | 359 | 355 | 351 | 346 |
| Construction Operations | 226 | 218 | 194 | 195 | 215 | 221 | 227 | 255 | 262 | 265 | 276 | 291 | 276 | 276 | 290 | 323 | 306 | 318 | 356 | 323 | 374 | 400 | 429 | 447 | 466 | 411 | 355 | 358 | 378 | 396 | 363 | 356 | 372 | 407 |
| Other | 357 | 335 | 312 | 322 | 317 | 318 | 298 | 281 | 272 | 272 | 266 | 243 | 216 | 227 | 204 | 203 | 178 | 170 | 166 | 152 | 150 | 146 | 144 | 135 | 140 | 133 | 126 | 127 | 123 | 122 | 118 | 124 | 119 | 109 |
| Home Firewood Burning | 102 | 102 | 108 | 109 | 106 | 103 | 106 | 104 | 83 | 80 | 81 | 70 | 67 | 63 | 66 | 68 | 66 | 78 | 77 | 78 | 69 | 73 | 69 | 75 | 76 | 73 | 69 | 69 | 71 | 68 | 58 | 52 | 55 | 51 |
Table 2–3: National Summary of Annual PM2.5 Emissions
| Source | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ore and Mineral Industries | 54,000 | 51,000 | 41,000 | 33,000 | 34,000 | 35,000 | 36,000 | 35,000 | 31,000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | 12,000 | 13,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 13,000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | 49,000 | 23,000 | 9,100 | 3,200 | 2,800 | 2,400 | 2,000 | 2,100 | 1,800 |
| Manufacturing | 110,000 | 75,000 | 45,000 | 17,000 | 16,000 | 17,000 | 20,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| Pulp and Paper Industry (Manufacturing) | 61,000 | 25,000 | 18,000 | 6,800 | 6,300 | 6,100 | 5,400 | 4,800 | 5,100 |
| Wood Products (Manufacturing) | 35,000 | 28,000 | 14,000 | 3,800 | 4,300 | 4,300 | 7,300 | 4,400 | 4,200 |
| Other Manufacturing Sectors (Manufacturing) | 18,000 | 22,000 | 13,000 | 6,800 | 5,800 | 6,100 | 7,200 | 5,900 | 5,600 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | 69,000 | 71,000 | 65,000 | 32,000 | 29,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 23,000 | 23,000 |
| Agriculture | 680,000 | 540,000 | 450,000 | 370,000 | 370,000 | 360,000 | 360,000 | 350,000 | 350,000 |
| Agricultural Fuel Combustion (Agriculture) | 120 | 140 | 130 | 260 | 260 | 230 | 230 | 240 | 240 |
| Animal Production (Agriculture) | 1,700 | 2,100 | 2,300 | 2,100 | 2,100 | 2,100 | 2,100 | 2,000 | 2,000 |
| Crop Production (Agriculture) | 670,000 | 540,000 | 450,000 | 370,000 | 360,000 | 360,000 | 360,000 | 350,000 | 350,000 |
| Commercial/Residential/Institutional | 120,000 | 100,000 | 90,000 | 92,000 | 89,000 | 79,000 | 72,000 | 76,000 | 72,000 |
| Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 2,000 | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,900 | 3,000 | 2,700 | 2,500 | 2,700 | 2,500 |
| Commercial Cooking (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 14,000 | 15,000 | 17,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 |
| Home Firewood Burning (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 100,000 | 81,000 | 68,000 | 71,000 | 68,000 | 58,000 | 52,000 | 55,000 | 51,000 |
| Residential Fuel Combustion (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 2,400 | 2,600 | 2,500 | 2,300 | 2,300 | 2,200 | 2,100 | 2,200 | 2,000 |
| Other Commercial/Residential/Institutional Sectors (Commercial/Residential/Institutional) | 3.8 | 4.9 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.7 |
| Incineration and Waste | 2,100 | 2,200 | 1,800 | 820 | 840 | 840 | 860 | 850 | 860 |
| Paints And Solvents | NA | NA | 9.2 | 23 | 43 | 41 | 45 | 49 | 49 |
| Dust | 480,000 | 580,000 | 650,000 | 820,000 | 840,000 | 740,000 | 780,000 | 800,000 | 860,000 |
| Coal Transportation (Dust) | 280 | 260 | 240 | 220 | 230 | 180 | 290 | 360 | 380 |
| Construction Operations (Dust) | 230,000 | 280,000 | 320,000 | 380,000 | 400,000 | 360,000 | 360,000 | 370,000 | 410,000 |
| Mine Tailings (Dust) | 5.5 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 17 |
| Paved Roads (Dust) | 23,000 | 25,000 | 26,000 | 30,000 | 31,000 | 27,000 | 29,000 | 29,000 | 29,000 |
| Unpaved Roads (Dust) | 230,000 | 280,000 | 300,000 | 410,000 | 410,000 | 350,000 | 400,000 | 400,000 | 430,000 |
| Fires | 36,000 | 6,900 | 4,500 | 2,900 | 3,200 | 2,500 | 2,500 | 5,500 | 1,100 |
| Grand Total | 1,600,000 | 1,500,000 | 1,400,000 | 1,400,000 | 1,400,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,400,000 |
Notes:
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
0.00 Indicates emissions were truncated due to rounding.
NA Indicates no emissions
Page details
- Date modified: