Canada’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory Report 2025: chapter 2.12
2.12 Hexachlorobenzene
In 2023, approximately 4.8 kg of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were emitted in Canada (Table 2–14). Ore and Mineral Industries was the largest contributor, with 77% (3.7 kg) of total emissions. Within the same source category, the Cement and Concrete Industry accounted for 29% (1.4 kg) of the national total. The Iron and Steel Industry and Iron Ore Pelletizing sectors contributed to 21% (1.0 kg) and 13% (0.64 kg), respectively, of the total HCB emissions. Incineration and Waste was the second-largest contributor in 2023 with 18% (0.87 kg) of total HCB emissions.
Overall, HCB emissions decreased by 88% (34 kg) from 1990 to 2023. HCB emissions decreased significantly between 1990 and 2014 and have fluctuated since 2014 (Figure 2–12). Emission reductions were also observed in the Electric Power Generation (Utilities) category between 1990 and 2023 due to reduced HCB emissions reported at several coal plants, as well as plant closures. The overall national HCB decrease is also partly due to a drop in emissions from Waste Incineration since 1998, specifically because of a decline in the use of batch incinerators for municipal waste incineration. For example, the use of conical burners has declined steadily in Newfoundland and Labrador (Newfoundland Municipal Affairs and Environment, 2017). Between 2019 and 2020, Ore and Mineral Industries experienced a decrease in HCB emissions of 39% (1.9 kg), mostly due to a decrease in Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry of 73% (2.0 kg), in part owed to the permanent closure of a non-ferrous metal smelter in December 2019.
The most significant changes in HCB emissions from 1990 to 2023 include:
- Incineration and Waste: decrease of 93% (11 kg), with:
- Waste Incineration: decrease of 93% (11 kg)
- Electric Power Generation (Utilities): decrease of 98% (11 kg), with:
- Coal (Electric Power Generation): decrease of 99% (10 kg)
Figure 2–12: Trends in Canadian HCB Emissions (1990 to 2023)
Long description for Figure 2-12
Figure 2–12: Trends in Canadian Hexachlorobenzene Emissions for 1990 to 2023.
Figure 2–12 is a stacked area graph displaying the six major contributors to national hexachlorobenzene trends that are: Coal (Electric Power Generation), Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry, Waste Incineration, Iron and Steel Industry, Other, and Cement and Concrete Industry. The figure shows that emissions from all sources decreased significantly between 1990 and 2023. The following table displays the contributions (kg) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement and Conrete Industry | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.4 |
| Other | 11 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 1.9 | 10 | 5.5 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 |
| Iron and Steel Industry | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 |
| Waste Incineration | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 5.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 11 | 19 | 6.6 | 5.0 | 5.6 | 4.5 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Coal (Electric Power Generation) | 10 | 9.7 | 10 | 10 | 9.8 | 10 | 9.9 | 9.6 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
Table 2–14: National Summary of Annual HCB Emissions
| Source | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ore and Mineral Industries | 5,600 | 5,900 | 8,100 | 3,400 | 4,700 | 2,900 | 3,000 | 3,300 | 3,700 |
| Cement and Concrete Industry (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 1,600 | 2,100 | 880 | 900 | 790 | 770 | 840 | 810 | 1,400 |
| Iron and Steel Industry (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 1,200 | 1,000 | 1,600 | 1,100 | 1,000 | 890 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,000 |
| Non-Ferrous Refining and Smelting Industry (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 2,700 | 2,200 | 5,600 | 1,100 | 2,700 | 720 | 370 | 420 | 480 |
| Other Ore and Mineral Industries Sectors (Ore and Mineral Industries) | 72 | 510 | 44 | 270 | 240 | 490 | 690 | 930 | 830 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | 1.3 | 1.6 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | 11,000 | 17,000 | 4,100 | 400 | 310 | 240 | 240 | 220 | 200 |
| Coal (Electric Power Generation (Utilities)) | 10,000 | 16,000 | 3,900 | 300 | 260 | 200 | 190 | 160 | 140 |
| Other Electric Power generation (Utilities) Sectors (Electric Power Generation (Utilities)) | 640 | 1,500 | 170 | 98 | 53 | 39 | 51 | 61 | 61 |
| Manufacturing | 10,000 | 9,800 | 1,400 | 100 | 67 | 67 | 57 | 36 | 45 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Agriculture | NA | NA | NA | 0.82 | 0.78 | 0.60 | 0.49 | 0.47 | 0.51 |
| Commercial/Residential/Institutional | 1.6 | 4.4 | 1.3 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 0.20 |
| Incineration and Waste | 12,000 | 14,000 | 4,700 | 550 | 570 | 580 | 5,500 | 650 | 870 |
| Crematoriums (Incineration and Waste) | 25 | 29 | 35 | 55 | 57 | 62 | 62 | 66 | 65 |
| Waste Incineration (Incineration and Waste) | 12,000 | 14,000 | 4,600 | 490 | 520 | 520 | 5,400 | 590 | 800 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal (Incineration and Waste) | NA | 81 | 39 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Paints and Solvents | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Dust | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Fires | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Grand Total | 39,000 | 46,000 | 18,000 | 4,400 | 5,700 | 3,800 | 8,800 | 4,200 | 4,800 |
Notes:
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
0.00 Indicates emissions were truncated due to rounding.
NA Indicates no emissions.
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