Archived: Air Pollutant Emission Inventory report: chapter 2.4
2.4 Volatile organic compounds
In 2016, approximately 1.8 Mt of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were released in Canada (Table 2–6). The oil and gas industry was the largest contributor at 35% (641 kt) of total emissions (with the upstream oil and gas industry emitting 33% (617 kt) of total VOCs). Paints and solvents were the next-largest contributor, accounting for 17% (326 kt) of emissions, with general solvent use accounting for 13% (250 kt) of the national total. Transportation and mobile equipment sources accounted for 17% (314 kt) of emissions, with off-road gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles and equipment contributing 8% (143 kt) of the national total. Commercial/residential/institutional sources represented 16% (292 kt) of VOC emissions, mainly attributed to home firewood burning (13% or 231 kt). The other contributing VOC sources are manufacturing, agriculture, incineration and waste, ore and mineral industries, and fires. Of these, manufacturing sources accounted for 6% (116 kt) and agricultural sources for 5% (98 kt) of total VOC emissions.
Between 1990 and 2016, VOC emissions decreased by 42% (1.3 Mt) (Figure 2–4). The most significant driver of this trend is a persistent decrease in emissions from off-road gasoline, LPG or CNG vehicles and equipment throughout the time series, due to increasingly stringent regulations on spark-ignition engines. Emissions from light-duty gasoline vehicles and trucks also contributed to this trend, with a consistent decrease in emissions throughout the time series.
Although emissions from most sources decreased, the oil and gas industry experienced an overall increase in emissions between 1990 and 2016. VOC emissions from the downstream oil and gas industry declined overall from 1990 to 2006, with emissions remaining relatively stable after that time, but the upstream oil and gas industry experienced increased emissions, which were more pronounced from 2012 to 2014. In 2016, VOC emissions from the upstream oil and gas industry declined compared to 2015, due to declining conventional production and decreased drilling activity.
The most significant changes in VOC emissions from 1990 to 2016 include:
- transportation and mobile equipment source emissions: decrease of 76% (977 kt)
- off-road gasoline/LPG/CNG vehicles and equipment: decrease of 83% (639 kt)
- light-duty gasoline vehicles and trucks: decrease of 56% (203 kt)
- oil and gas industry source emissions: increase of 7% (42 kt)
- downstream oil and gas industry: decrease of 81% (104 kt)
- upstream oil and gas industry: increase of 31% (145 kt)
Long description for figure 2-4
Figure 2-4 displays the five major sections that contribute to national volatile organic compound 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 - Home Firewood Burning | 356.4688 | 351.4329 | 335.9278 | 352.0854 | 358.4497 | 342.0772 | 338.4051 | 322.5918 | 341.9709 | 325.0361 | 313.5554 | 289.6887 | 313.2334 | 269.4505 | 261.4567 | 246.2989 | 237.6729 | 234.8813 | 235.2672 | 224.3326 | 235.8964 | 235.1911 | 234.413 | 232.9933 | 231.4646 | 229.9923 | 231.3105 |
| Sector 2 - Upstream Oil and Gas Industry | 471.445 | 473.6362 | 492.9874 | 523.2576 | 538.7686 | 561.9812 | 594.3421 | 586.774 | 601.9814 | 561.6485 | 581.8917 | 599.273 | 616.1829 | 615.2128 | 607.3801 | 609.8257 | 638.1699 | 634.3733 | 645.798 | 603.1069 | 607.9575 | 602.8559 | 660.1207 | 714.233 | 751.4734 | 706.6744 | 616.5356 |
| Sector 3 - Transportation and Mobile Equipment | 1290.801 | 1245.063 | 1255.255 | 1277.154 | 1284.781 | 1274.269 | 1246.836 | 1206.279 | 1166.637 | 1143.849 | 1052.047 | 865.4124 | 835.558 | 791.5071 | 793.1887 | 680.955 | 644.881 | 634.124 | 617.1482 | 565.5799 | 550.1053 | 431.0327 | 392.0697 | 369.6566 | 351.7138 | 336.991 | 313.9419 |
| Sector 4 - General Solvent Use | 189.0805 | 188.8074 | 195.9523 | 199.7688 | 209.751 | 225.3451 | 230.9139 | 234.4971 | 235.526 | 244.8754 | 257.5232 | 244.6708 | 237.5303 | 243.5445 | 242.4884 | 247.2527 | 242.1804 | 243.0558 | 242.0662 | 225.2148 | 233.4359 | 225.6341 | 230.6201 | 236.5419 | 244.0839 | 247.3601 | 250.3733 |
| Sector 5 - Other | 828.9042 | 810.3699 | 786.1332 | 817.5908 | 815.3102 | 792.4652 | 771.5454 | 752.6331 | 759.5074 | 756.1634 | 738.7992 | 694.9815 | 685.0069 | 673.9516 | 640.7661 | 621.9248 | 521.0514 | 498.0815 | 469.4353 | 433.6023 | 433.7912 | 424.4566 | 418.2559 | 411.9074 | 413.6228 | 407.5727 | 405.3391 |
| Source | Sector | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ore and Mineral Industries | nil | 21 000 | 20 000 | 17 000 | 16 000 | 14 000 | 13 000 | 13 000 | 13 000 | 13 000 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Aluminium Industry | 710 | 1 100 | 1 200 | 1 500 | 1 300 | 1 400 | 970 | 930 | 950 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Asphalt Paving Industry | 6 600 | 6 400 | 6 100 | 9 500 | 7 900 | 7 100 | 8 500 | 8 500 | 8 500 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Cement and Concrete Industry | 720 | 780 | 1 300 | 370 | 420 | 450 | 420 | 410 | 450 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Foundries | 1 700 | 1 100 | 920 | 560 | 580 | 520 | 450 | 380 | 360 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron and Steel Industries | 5 800 | 4 200 | 2 000 | 1 400 | 1 300 | 920 | 1 100 | 870 | 820 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Iron Ore Industry | 570 | 3 200 | 1 600 | 38 | 170 | 290 | 320 | 300 | 410 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mineral Products Industry | 170 | 320 | 210 | 68 | 74 | 100 | 120 | 110 | 140 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Mining and Rock Quarrying | 4 100 | 3 200 | 3 300 | 2 600 | 1 900 | 1 800 | 1 600 | 1 900 | 1 400 |
| Ore and Mineral Industries | Non-Ferrous Mining and Smelting Industry | 330 | 37 | 52 | 73 | 65 | 70 | 66 | 67 | 65 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | nil | 600 000 | 670 000 | 670 000 | 630 000 | 680 000 | 740 000 | 780 000 | 730 000 | 640 000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Downstream Oil and Gas Industry | 130 000 | 86 000 | 64 000 | 26 000 | 23 000 | 25 000 | 24 000 | 24 000 | 25 000 |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Upstream Oil and Gas Industry | 470 000 | 580 000 | 610 000 | 600 000 | 660 000 | 710 000 | 750 000 | 710 000 | 620 000 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | nil | 2 500 | 3 600 | 3 200 | 1 900 | 1 200 | 1 300 | 1 300 | 1 300 | 1 200 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Coal | 1 300 | 950 | 1 300 | 360 | 380 | 390 | 450 | 410 | 410 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Diesel | 77 | 280 | 220 | 54 | 53 | 53 | 46 | 84 | 55 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Natural Gas | 480 | 1 600 | 1 400 | 1 200 | 530 | 560 | 550 | 570 | 570 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Waste Materials | 0.7 | 5.6 | no emissions (-) | 15 | 17 | 8.2 | 11 | 13 | 9.1 |
| Electric Power Generation (Utilities) | Other Electric Power Generation | 630 | 770 | 300 | 300 | 250 | 290 | 270 | 220 | 200 |
| Manufacturing | nil | 260 000 | 270 000 | 200 000 | 120 000 | 120 000 | 120 000 | 120 000 | 110 000 | 120 000 |
| Manufacturing | Abrasives Manufacture | 1 500 | 590 | 610 | 30 | 90 | 94 | 59 | 18 | 20 |
| Manufacturing | Bakeries | 3 500 | 6 900 | 11 000 | 13 000 | 11 000 | 11 000 | 13 000 | 14 000 | 16 000 |
| Manufacturing | Biofuel Production | - | - | - | 97 | 100 | 100 | 98 | 100 | 42 |
| Manufacturing | Chemicals Industry | 47 000 | 36 000 | 25 000 | 12 000 | 11 000 | 14 000 | 13 000 | 11 000 | 9 800 |
| Manufacturing | Electronics | 1 300 | 540 | 320 | 98 | 41 | 36 | 33 | 19 | 17 |
| Manufacturing | Food Preparation | 10 000 | 13 000 | 15 000 | 17 000 | 16 000 | 15 000 | 15 000 | 15 000 | 15 000 |
| Manufacturing | Glass Manufacture | 2 000 | 2 300 | 600 | 260 | 260 | 280 | 240 | 200 | 260 |
| Manufacturing | Grain Industries | 2 200 | 2 300 | 2 200 | 2 600 | 2 600 | 2 500 | 3 000 | 3 000 | 2 500 |
| Manufacturing | Metal Fabrication | 9 100 | 14 000 | 11 000 | 5 500 | 5 200 | 4 800 | 4 200 | 4 500 | 3 700 |
| Manufacturing | Plastics Manufacture | 14 000 | 16 000 | 14 000 | 13 000 | 13 000 | 12 000 | 9 600 | 10 000 | 9 800 |
| Manufacturing | Pulp and Paper Industry | 27 000 | 24 000 | 18 000 | 19 000 | 18 000 | 16 000 | 14 000 | 13 000 | 13 000 |
| Manufacturing | Textiles | 870 | 1 500 | 840 | 700 | 530 | 490 | 570 | 620 | 580 |
| Manufacturing | Vehicle Manufacture (Engines, Parts, Assembly, Painting) | 22 000 | 23 000 | 18 000 | 9 400 | 9 800 | 9 600 | 9 400 | 9 400 | 11 000 |
| Manufacturing | Wood Products | 110 000 | 110 000 | 77 000 | 31 000 | 35 000 | 36 000 | 36 000 | 33 000 | 33 000 |
| Manufacturing | Other Manufacturing Industries | 11 000 | 21 000 | 5 600 | 1 300 | 1 100 | 1 400 | 1 300 | 1 300 | 1 100 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | nil | 1 300 000 | 1 100 000 | 680 000 | 430 000 | 390 000 | 370 000 | 350 000 | 340 000 | 310 000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Air Transportation | 5 100 | 6 000 | 5 400 | 5 800 | 6 400 | 6 300 | 6 200 | 6 200 | 5 900 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty Diesel Vehicles | 10 000 | 18 000 | 25 000 | 23 000 | 21 000 | 20 000 | 19 000 | 17 000 | 17 000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty Gasoline Vehicles | 23 000 | 28 000 | 22 000 | 15 000 | 15 000 | 15 000 | 12 000 | 11 000 | 12 000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Heavy-duty LPG/NG Vehicles | 7 100 | 12 000 | 2 300 | 190 | 100 | 53 | 26 | 26 | 36 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty Diesel Trucks | 770 | 970 | 1 500 | 1 100 | 1 000 | 1 000 | 1 100 | 1 300 | 1 400 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty Diesel Vehicles | 2 200 | 1 500 | 920 | 870 | 810 | 800 | 800 | 810 | 750 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty Gasoline Trucks | 88 000 | 110 000 | 81 000 | 62 000 | 59 000 | 57 000 | 54 000 | 54 000 | 57 000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty Gasoline Vehicles | 220 000 | 150 000 | 94 000 | 61 000 | 57 000 | 54 000 | 49 000 | 48 000 | 48 000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG Trucks | 1 100 | 540 | 230 | 5.5 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.86 | 0.83 | 1.0 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Light-duty LPG/NG Vehicles | 8 100 | 3 700 | 1 900 | 110 | 67 | 35 | 26 | 24 | 26 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Marine Transportation | 5 800 | 7 600 | 8 600 | 8 800 | 9 100 | 9 400 | 9 700 | 7 100 | 7 400 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Motorcycles | 1 500 | 1 700 | 1 800 | 1 900 | 1 900 | 1 900 | 1 800 | 1 800 | 2 000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road Diesel Vehicles and Equipment | 53 000 | 53 000 | 37 000 | 25 000 | 21 000 | 20 000 | 19 000 | 18 000 | 14 000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Off-road Gasoline/LPG/CNG Vehicles and Equipment | 860 000 | 660 000 | 390 000 | 220 000 | 190 000 | 180 000 | 170 000 | 170 000 | 140 000 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Rail Transportation | 6 700 | 6 200 | 6 100 | 6 100 | 6 100 | 5 900 | 6 100 | 5 800 | 5 300 |
| Transportation and Mobile Equipment | Tire Wear and Brake Lining | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | nil | 94 000 | 110 000 | 110 000 | 99 000 | 99 000 | 99 000 | 99 000 | 98 000 | 98 000 |
| Agriculture | Animal Production | 94 000 | 110 000 | 110 000 | 99 000 | 99 000 | 99 000 | 99 000 | 98 000 | 98 000 |
| Agriculture | Crop Production | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agriculture | Fuel Use | 81 | 91 | 82 | 140 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | nil | 450 000 | 410 000 | 340 000 | 300 000 | 290 000 | 290 000 | 290 000 | 290 000 | 290 000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Cigarette Smoking | 13 | 12 | 8.8 | 8.1 | 8.0 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 6.1 | 6.2 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial and Institutional Fuel Combustion | 1 000 | 1 400 | 1 400 | 1 300 | 1 300 | 1 300 | 1 400 | 1 300 | 1 300 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Commercial Cooking | 2 000 | 2 300 | 2 500 | 2 500 | 2 500 | 2 500 | 2 400 | 2 300 | 2 300 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Construction Fuel Combustion | 71 | 34 | 51 | 61 | 68 | 59 | 56 | 55 | 58 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Home Firewood Burning | 360 000 | 310 000 | 250 000 | 240 000 | 230 000 | 230 000 | 230 000 | 230 000 | 230 000 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Human | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Marine Cargo Handling | 0.34 | 0.92 | 1.9 | 17 | 10.0 | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Residential Fuel Combustion | 1 500 | 1 700 | 1 700 | 1 700 | 1 600 | 1 700 | 1 800 | 1 700 | 1 500 |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Service Stations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Commercial / Residential / Institutional | Other Miscellaneous Sources | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Incineration and Waste | nil | 16 000 | 15 000 | 15 000 | 11 000 | 11 000 | 11 000 | 11 000 | 11 000 | 11 000 |
| Incineration and Waste | Crematoriums | 0.95 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
| Incineration and Waste | Waste Incineration | 9 800 | 8 000 | 8 200 | 5 300 | 5 100 | 4 900 | 5 100 | 5 100 | 5 200 |
| Incineration and Waste | Waste Treatment and Disposal | 6 100 | 6 500 | 6 400 | 5 500 | 5 500 | 5 600 | 5 600 | 5 700 | 5 800 |
| Paints and Solvents | nil | 360 000 | 400 000 | 370 000 | 300 000 | 310 000 | 310 000 | 320 000 | 330 000 | 330 000 |
| Paints and Solvents | Dry Cleaning | 740 | 790 | 200 | 190 | 190 | 200 | 200 | 180 | 190 |
| Paints and Solvents | General Solvent Use | 190 000 | 260 000 | 250 000 | 230 000 | 230 000 | 240 000 | 240 000 | 250 000 | 250 000 |
| Paints and Solvents | Printing | 37 000 | 48 000 | 42 000 | 19 000 | 19 000 | 18 000 | 17 000 | 17 000 | 15 000 |
| Paints and Solvents | Surface Coatings | 130 000 | 89 000 | 77 000 | 60 000 | 60 000 | 59 000 | 61 000 | 61 000 | 60 000 |
| Dust | nil | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Coal Transportation | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Construction Operations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Mine Tailings | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Paved Roads | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dust | Unpaved Roads | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fires | nil | 41 000 | 4 200 | 3 400 | 4 200 | 7 100 | 2 000 | 8 100 | 5 900 | 4 900 |
| Fires | Prescribed Forest Burning | 40 000 | 3 900 | 3 100 | 3 900 | 6 800 | 1 700 | 7 900 | 5 700 | 4 700 |
| Fires | Structural Fires | 390 | 310 | 280 | 310 | 310 | 310 | 220 | 210 | 200 |
| Grand Total | nil | 3 100 000 | 2 900 000 | 2 400 000 | 1 900 000 | 1 900 000 | 2 000 000 | 2 000 000 | 1 900 000 | 1 800 000 |
Notes:
totals may not add up due to rounding
- denotes no emissions
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