Archived: Air Pollutant Emission Inventory report: chapter 2.2
2.2 Sulphur oxides (SOx)
In 2016, 1.1 Mt of SOx were emitted in Canada (Table 2-4). Ore and mineral industries were the largest contributor, accounting for 45% (481 kt) of national emissions. Approximately 74% (360 kt) of the emissions from this source was attributed to the non-ferrous mining and smelting industry. Electric power generation (utilities) was the second-largest source of SOx, accounting for 24% (253 kt) of total SOx emissions, including coal-fired electricity generation at 23% (243 kt). Oil and gas industry sources follow, accounting for 23% (249 kt) of total SOx emissions. The remaining 8% of SOx emissions were distributed across multiple sources.
Overall, SOx emissions decreased by 65% (2.0 Mt) between 1990 and 2016 (Figure 2-2). Reductions in emissions from the non-ferrous mining and smelting industry were the largest driver of this downward trend, particularly in the early 1990s, and again from 2008 to 2016. This decrease is attributed to federal and provincial/territorial government initiatives to reduce acid rain, the installation of new technology or processes at facilities, and the closure of three major smelters in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Emissions from electric power generation significantly decreased from 2003 to 2016, due primarily to decreased coal-fired electricity generation across the country, including the complete phase-out of coal electricity generation in Ontario. Upstream oil and gas experienced a gradual decline throughout the time series as a result of a decrease in emissions from bitumen and heavy oil upgrading and natural gas processing, attributed to better emission control technologies.
The most significant decreases in SOx emissions from 1990 to 2016 include:
- ore and mineral industries: decrease of 68% (1.0 Mt)
- non-ferrous smelting and refining industry: decrease of 72% (912 kt)
- electric power generation (utilities): decrease of 59% (365 kt)
- coal (electric power generation): decrease of 53% (272 kt)
- oil and gas industry: decrease of 53% (285 kt)
- upstream oil and gas industry: decrease of 51% (206 kt)
Long description for figure 2-2
Figure 2-2 displays the four major sections that contribute to national SOx trends. The following table displays the contributions (kt) for the years 1990 to 2016.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 1 - Non-Ferrous Mining and Smelting Industry | 1272.085 | 1119.44 | 973.9461 | 895.0876 | 681.3287 | 888.8571 | 878.3039 | 821.11 | 830.786 | 770.0803 | 763.5352 | 757.7 | 754.7981 | 655.5764 | 703.0012 | 683.1479 | 668.912 | 623.704 | 570.0871 | 401.307 | 372.5786 | 333.4457 | 342.2842 | 370.0398 | 373.0468 | 365.0803 | 359.7046 |
| Sector 2 - Coal (Electric Power Generation) | 514.8045 | 505.9806 | 518.134 | 464.203 | 488.9599 | 458.3491 | 465.0996 | 510.0397 | 517.5791 | 512.4322 | 534.6847 | 535.242 | 534.5258 | 530.0267 | 473.0387 | 461.2934 | 440.5611 | 473.5923 | 411.3078 | 368.7892 | 322.3544 | 286.4238 | 277.7832 | 271.6878 | 259.8141 | 241.5668 | 243.0262 |
| Sector 3 - Upstream Petroleum Industry | 404.1275 | 395.7076 | 420.643 | 430.2729 | 457.3921 | 440.412 | 430.3805 | 389.7227 | 367.496 | 376.0105 | 368.3485 | 356.2181 | 339.581 | 348.2397 | 340.5922 | 339.6518 | 321.872 | 305.2166 | 287.8169 | 291.0951 | 273.0938 | 267.6314 | 271.6449 | 259.4694 | 230.1991 | 214.2272 | 197.6933 |
| Sector 4 - Other | 875.8024 | 824.3268 | 810.6309 | 849.7388 | 799.4027 | 776.7546 | 799.7957 | 805.4621 | 774.8277 | 737.4221 | 734.941 | 730.8714 | 703.2681 | 740.7162 | 729.1205 | 689.6525 | 547.7581 | 521.8947 | 471.4808 | 416.5182 | 401.2874 | 398.8125 | 389.7929 | 371.676 | 368.2279 | 262.3043 | 266.2081 |
| Source | Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ore and Mineral Industries | nil | 1 500 000 | 920 000 | 860 000 | 470 000 | 480 000 | 490 000 | 490 000 | 480 000 | 480 000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Aluminium Industry | 31 000 | 48 000 | 63 000 | 65 000 | 63 000 | 60 000 | 55 000 | 57 000 | 64 000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Asphalt Paving Industry | 740 | 650 | 720 | 850 | 620 | 580 | 650 | 660 | 710 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Cement and Concrete Industry | 48 000 | 45 000 | 54 000 | 22 000 | 25 000 | 23 000 | 20 000 | 24 000 | 24 000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Foundries | 1 300 | 910 | 720 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 49 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron and Steel Industries | 36 000 | 29 000 | 30 000 | 29 000 | 30 000 | 24 000 | 24 000 | 22 000 | 17 000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron Ore Industry | 59 000 | 17 000 | 19 000 | 12 000 | 13 000 | 11 000 | 10 000 | 12 000 | 13 000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mineral Products Industry | 1 300 | 820 | 1 400 | 1 400 | 1 500 | 1 800 | 1 500 | 1 300 | 1 400 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mining and Rock Quarrying | 35 000 | 11 000 | 6 300 | 5 900 | 3 000 | 2 200 | 2 000 | 1 800 | 1 600 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Non-Ferrous Mining and Smelting Industry | 1 300 000 | 760 000 | 680 000 | 330 000 | 340 000 | 370 000 | 370 000 | 370 000 | 360 000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | nil | 530 000 | 500 000 | 450 000 | 330 000 | 330 000 | 320 000 | 280 000 | 260 000 | 250 000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Downstream Oil and Gas Industry | 130 000 | 140 000 | 110 000 | 58 000 | 56 000 | 56 000 | 53 000 | 45 000 | 51 000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Upstream Oil and Gas Petroleum Industry | 400 000 | 370 000 | 340 000 | 270 000 | 270 000 | 260 000 | 230 000 | 210 000 | 200 000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | nil | 620 000 | 620 000 | 530 000 | 290 000 | 280 000 | 280 000 | 270 000 | 250 000 | 250 000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Coal | 510 000 | 530 000 | 460 000 | 290 000 | 280 000 | 270 000 | 260 000 | 240 000 | 240 000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Diesel | 410 | 420 | 300 | 56 | 55 | 59 | 110 | 270 | 230 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Natural Gas | 29 000 | 21 000 | 19 000 | 680 | 570 | 1 300 | 2 200 | 2 000 | 1 700 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Waste Materials | 0.76 | 21 | 25 | 47 | 46 | 37 | 24 | 11 | 29 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Other Electric Power Generation | 74 000 | 63 000 | 46 000 | 6 000 | 5 800 | 5 100 | 7 000 | 7 700 | 8 200 |
| Manufacturing | nil | 230 000 | 160 000 | 140 000 | 53 000 | 50 000 | 49 000 | 53 000 | 48 000 | 43 000 |
| Manufacturing | Abrasives Manufacture | 4 000 | 860 | 860 | no emissions (-) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Bakeries | 0.053 | 0.052 | 0.16 | 0.0060 | 0.0051 | 0.0064 | 0.0062 | 0.0054 | 0.0054 |
| Manufacturing | Biofuel Production | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Chemicals Industry | 38 000 | 31 000 | 35 000 | 23 000 | 20 000 | 20 000 | 21 000 | 22 000 | 20 000 |
| Manufacturing | Electronics | 1 700 | 3 000 | 3 000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Food Preparation | 3 500 | 4 800 | 5 200 | 1 700 | 900 | 740 | 610 | 370 | 280 |
| Manufacturing | Glass Manufacture | 2 300 | 2 800 | 2 500 | 590 | 630 | 630 | 600 | 630 | 610 |
| Manufacturing | Grain Industries | 230 | 210 | 390 | 700 | 660 | 630 | 470 | 510 | 530 |
| Manufacturing | Metal Fabrication | 2 300 | 2 700 | 2 000 | 200 | 200 | 190 | 9.2 | 8.6 | 11 |
| Manufacturing | Plastics Manufacture | 470 | 27 | 12 | 0.11 | 0.0068 | 0.0079 | 0.0069 | - | - |
| Manufacturing | Pulp and Paper Industry | 140 000 | 78 000 | 62 000 | 26 000 | 26 000 | 26 000 | 29 000 | 24 000 | 21 000 |
| Manufacturing | Textiles | 380 | 390 | 320 | 51 | 41 | 31 | 22 | 17 | 0.0011 |
| Manufacturing | Vehicle Manufacture (Engines, Parts, Assembly, Painting) | 2 300 | 2 100 | 1 800 | 970 | 660 | 610 | 390 | 57 | 46 |
| Manufacturing | Wood Products | 3 300 | 3 500 | 3 100 | 640 | 580 | 570 | 660 | 630 | 680 |
| Manufacturing | Other Manufacturing Industries | 29 000 | 25 000 | 23 000 | 24 | 0.88 | 0.7 | 0.79 | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | nil | 150 000 | 170 000 | 150 000 | 120 000 | 120 000 | 120 000 | 120 000 | 22 000 | 22 000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Air Transportation | 5 300 | 6 700 | 7 500 | 5 200 | 5 900 | 6 200 | 6 000 | 6 200 | 6 400 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty Diesel Vehicles | 15 000 | 6 700 | 6 100 | 160 | 160 | 170 | 160 | 160 | 160 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty Gasoline Vehicles | 940 | 1 900 | 150 | 170 | 180 | 190 | 180 | 180 | 180 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty LPG/NG Vehicles | 240 | 1 300 | 9.5 | 1.0 | 0.93 | 0.43 | 0.32 | 0.38 | 0.45 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty Diesel Trucks | 170 | 75 | 49 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 3.1 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty Diesel Vehicles | 570 | 130 | 110 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.1 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty Gasoline Trucks | 3 200 | 6 300 | 500 | 580 | 640 | 660 | 660 | 690 | 730 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty Gasoline Vehicles | 7 100 | 8 200 | 560 | 520 | 550 | 550 | 530 | 540 | 540 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG Trucks | 23 | 28 | 1.4 | 0.038 | 0.018 | 0.0073 | 0.0059 | 0.0056 | 0.0067 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG Vehicles | 190 | 180 | 10 | 0.62 | 0.38 | 0.20 | 0.16 | 0.15 | 0.16 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Marine Transportation | 80 000 | 110 000 | 130 000 | 110 000 | 110 000 | 110 000 | 110 000 | 13 000 | 14 000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Motorcycles | 14 | 24 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.4 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road Diesel Vehicles and Equipment | 28 000 | 17 000 | 6 600 | 240 | 150 | 150 | 140 | 150 | 130 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road Gasoline/LPG/CNG Vehicles and Equipment | 1 600 | 1 700 | 94 | 86 | 83 | 85 | 90 | 92 | 92 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Rail Transportation | 5 700 | 5 400 | 5 000 | 450 | 450 | 430 | 440 | 420 | 390 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Tire Wear and Brake Lining | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | nil | 2 200 | 1 500 | 2 900 | 9 000 | 7 900 | 8 300 | 9 100 | 6 700 | 6 200 |
| Agriculture | Animal Production | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Crop Production | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Fuel Use | 2 200 | 1 500 | 2 900 | 9 000 | 7 900 | 8 300 | 9 100 | 6 700 | 6 200 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | nil | 52 000 | 36 000 | 37 000 | 17 000 | 14 000 | 10 000 | 10 000 | 9 000 | 7 700 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Cigarette Smoking | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion | 19 000 | 19 000 | 21 000 | 7 500 | 6 200 | 3 300 | 3 600 | 2 500 | 2 000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial Cooking | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Construction Fuel Combustion | 1 900 | 620 | 1 400 | 850 | 650 | 530 | 520 | 620 | 420 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Home Firewood Burning | 3 600 | 3 300 | 2 700 | 2 800 | 2 900 | 2 800 | 2 800 | 2 800 | 2 800 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Human | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Marine Cargo Handling | 0.0050 | 0.0010 | - | - | - | 140 | 140 | 88 | 91 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Residential Fuel Combustion | 28 000 | 14 000 | 11 000 | 6 200 | 4 300 | 3 400 | 3 200 | 3 000 | 2 500 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Service Stations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Other Miscellaneous Sources | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Incineration and Waste | nil | 3 200 | 2 900 | 3 000 | 3 200 | 3 200 | 3 100 | 3 300 | 3 800 | 3 700 |
| Incineration and Waste | Crematoriums | 5.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
| Incineration and Waste | Waste Incineration | 2 400 | 2 000 | 2 400 | 2 500 | 2 600 | 2 500 | 2 500 | 2 500 | 2 500 |
| Incineration and Waste | Waste Treatment and Disposal | 790 | 930 | 600 | 680 | 620 | 610 | 840 | 1 200 | 1 200 |
| Paints and Solvents | nil | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.63 | 0.0038 | - | 0.0040 | 0.0040 | 0.0030 | 0.0030 |
| Paints and Solvents | Dry Cleaning | 0.0068 | 0.0086 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paints and Solvents | General Solvent Use | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paints and Solvents | Printing | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.63 | 0.0038 | - | 0.0040 | 0.0040 | 0.0030 | 0.0030 |
| Paints and Solvents | Surface Coatings | 0.015 | 0.015 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | nil | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Coal Transportation | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Construction Operations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Mine Tailings | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Paved Roads | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Unpaved Roads | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fires | nil | 180 | 28 | 18 | 27 | 34 | 13 | 53 | 41 | 34 |
| Fires | Prescribed Forest Burning | 180 | 28 | 18 | 27 | 34 | 13 | 53 | 41 | 34 |
| Fires | Structural Fires | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Grand Total | nil | 3 100 000 | 2 400 000 | 2 200 000 | 1 300 000 | 1 300 000 | 1 300 000 | 1 200 000 | 1 100 000 | 1 100 000 |
Notes:
totals may not add up due to rounding
- denotes no emissions
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