Final Draft
December 4, 2015

2014 Air Quality Report Highlights

  • The 2014 air quality report marks 44 years of long-term reporting on the state of air quality in Ontario. This report summarizes province-wide trends for key airborne pollutants affecting Ontario’s air quality.
  • Overall, air quality has improved significantly over the past 10 years, especially for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) – pollutants emitted by vehicles and industry, as well as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) which may be emitted directly into the atmosphere as a by-product of fuel combustion or it may be formed indirectly in the atmosphere through a series of complex chemical reactions.
  • Ozone is a secondary pollutant formed when nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in the presence of sunlight. Ozone annual means have increased by 3 per cent from 2005 to 2014; however, ozone summer means have decreased by 8 per cent over the same period.
  • Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX), CO and SO2 continue to decrease due in part to Ontario’s air quality initiatives such as the phase-out of coal-fired generating stations, emissions trading regulations (O. Reg. 397/01 and O. Reg. 194/05), emissions controls at Ontario smelters, and Drive Clean emissions testing, which supports the federal vehicle emission standards and lower sulphur content in transportation fuels.
Decreasing Provincial Ambient Concentrations (2005 – 2014)
PollutantChange Over Time
NO2 42%
SO2 49%
CO 40%
PM2.5 31%
Decreasing Provincial Emissions (2004 – 2013)
PollutantChange Over Time
NOX 41%
SO2 50%
CO 38%
PM2.5 22%

For more information on Ontario’s air quality, visit the Air Quality Ontario website

Introduction

This annual report, the 44th in a series, summarizes the state of ambient air quality in Ontario during 2014 and examines 10-year trends. It reports on the measured levels of six common air pollutants: ground-level ozone (O3), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and total reduced sulphur (TRS) compounds, and how Ontario is performing compared to the province’s Ambient Air Quality Criteria (AAQC). This report also provides an overview of the Ministry of the Environment & Climate Change’s Air Quality Index (AQI) and Smog Alert programs in addition to the federal Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). Annual statistics, as well as 10 and 20-year trends of ambient air quality data are provided in the attached Appendix.

Fact: An AAQC is a desirable concentration of a contaminant in air, based on protection against adverse effects on health or the environment. The term “ambient” is used to reflect general air quality independent of location or source of a contaminant. AAQCs are most commonly used in environmental assessments, special studies using ambient air monitoring data, assessment of general air quality in a community and annual reporting on air quality across the province. AAQCs are set with different averaging times appropriate for the effect they are intended to protect against.

An AAQC is a desirable concentration of a contaminant in air, based on protection against adverse effects on health or the environment. The term “ambient” is used to reflect general air quality independent of location or source of a contaminant. AAQCs are most commonly used in environmental assessments, special studies using ambient air monitoring data, assessment of general air quality in a community and annual reporting on air quality across the province. AAQCs are set with different averaging times appropriate for the effect they are intended to protect against.
Contaminant1-hour AAQC8-hour AAQC24-hour AAQCAnnual AAQC
O380 ppbn/an/an/a
PM2.5n/an/a28 μg/m3(1)n/a
NO2200 ppbn/a100 ppbn/a
SO2250 ppbn/a100 ppb20 ppb
CO30 ppm13 ppmn/an/a

(1) Reference level based on Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard (CAAQS).

Ontario continues to benefit from one of the most comprehensive air monitoring systems in North America, comprised of 40 monitoring sites across the province that undergo regularly scheduled maintenance and strict data quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures to ensure a high standard of data quality and data completeness. The data, which are collected continuously at these sites, are used to determine the current state of ambient air quality and are reported every hour on the Air Quality Ontario website.

Ground-Level Ozone (O3)

Ground-level ozone is a gas formed when nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in the presence of sunlight. While ozone at ground level is a significant environmental and health concern, the naturally occurring ozone in the stratosphere, 10 to 40 kilometres above the earth’s surface, is beneficial as it shields the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Ozone is a colourless, odourless gas at typical ambient concentrations, and is a major component of smog. Ozone is not generally emitted directly into the atmosphere; the formation and transport of ozone is strongly dependent on meteorological conditions and emissions of chemical precursors, particularly NOX and VOCs. Changing weather patterns contribute to differences in ozone concentrations hour-to-hour, day-to-day, season-to-season, and year-to-year. In Ontario, the highest concentrations of ground-level ozone are typically recorded on hot and sunny days from mainly May to September, between noon and early evening.

Ozone irritates the respiratory tract and eyes. Exposure to ozone in sensitive people can result in chest tightness, coughing and wheezing. Children who are active outdoors during the summer, when ozone levels are highest, are particularly at risk. Individuals with pre-existing respiratory disorders, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are also at risk. Ozone is associated with increased hospital admissions and premature deaths. Ozone also causes many losses in agricultural crops each year in Ontario, with visible leaf damage in many crops, garden plants and trees, especially during the summer months.

Figure 1 shows the estimates of Ontario’s VOCs emissions from point, area and transportation sources. Transportation sectors accounted for approximately 28 per cent of VOCs emissions and the second largest source was general solvent use accounting for approximately 24 per cent. Figure 2 shows the estimates for Ontario’s NOX emissions from point, area and transportation sources. The transportation sectors accounted for approximately 71 per cent of NOX emissions (NPRI, 2015).

Figure 1: Ontario VOCs emissions by sector (2013 estimates for point/area/transportation sources)

Figure 1: Figure 1 displays a pie chart depicting Ontario’s VOCs emissions by sector based on 2013 estimates for point/area/transportation sources. Please note that it excludes emissions from open and natural sources. Road vehicles accounted for 13%, other transportation accounted for 15%, general solvent use accounted for 24%, printing/surface coating accounted for 17%, residential accounted for 15%, industrial accounted for 13% and miscellaneous accounted for 3%.

Figure 2: Ontario NOX emissions by sector (2013 estimates for point/area/transportation sources)

Figure 2: Figure 2 displays a pie chart depicting Ontario’s nitrogen oxides emissions by sector based on 2013 estimates for point/area/transportation sources. Please note that it excludes emissions from open and natural sources. Road vehicles accounted for 34%, other transportation accounted for 37%, miscellaneous/residential accounted for 9%, utilities accounted for 5%, smelters/primary metals accounted for 3%, cement and concrete accounted for 4% and other nitrogen oxides industrial sources accounted for 9%.

In 2014, ozone was monitored at the ministry’s 40 AQI sites. The highest annual mean was 32.3 parts per billion (ppb), measured at Port Stanley, a transboundary-influenced site on the northern shore of Lake Erie. The lowest annual mean, 21.1 ppb, was measured at Toronto West, an urban site located near a major transportation corridor, Highway 401, and directly impacted by local nitric oxide (NO) emissions from vehicles. Generally, ozone concentrations are lower in urban areas because ozone is depleted by reacting with NO emitted by vehicles and other local combustion sources.

Ground-level ozone concentrations exceeded the provincial one-hour Ambient Air Quality Criterion (AAQC) of 80 ppb at 8 sites in 2014. These 8 sites measured ozone levels above 80 ppb for at least one hour in 2014. The maximum one-hour ozone concentrations ranged from 63 ppb recorded at Ottawa Central, to 90 ppb recorded in Grand Bend. Ontario’s one- hour AAQC for ozone was exceeded the most often at Grand Bend on 4 occasions. The geographical distribution of one-hour ozone exceedances across the province is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Geographical Distribution of the # of Hours Above the One‐Hour Ozone AAQC Across Ontario in 2014

Figure 3: Figure 3 is a map showing the geographical distribution of the number of hours above the one-hour ozone Ambient Air Quality Criteria across Ontario in 2014. The number of one-hour ozone exceedances were experienced as follows: Windsor 3, Sarnia 0, Grand Bend 4, Tiverton 1, Chatham 0, Port Stanley 3, London 1, Brantford 0, St. Catharines 0, Hamilton 0, Burlington 0, Kitchener 0, Guelph 0, Oakville 0, Mississauga 0, Brampton 0, Toronto 1, Oshawa 0, Newmarket 3, Barrie 0, Peterborough 0, Belleville 0, Kingston 1, Morrisburg 0, Cornwall 0, Ottawa 0, Parry Sound 0, Dorset 0, Petawawa 0, North Bay 0, Sudbury 0, Sault Ste. Marie 0, and Thunder Bay 0.

The ozone exceedances reported in southwestern Ontario, on the eastern shore of Lake Huron and on the northern shore of Lake Erie, are typically resulting from transboundary flow of pollutants. As stated in the Transboundary Air Pollution in Ontario report, elevated ozone levels in southwestern Ontario are generally attributed to the long-range transport of pollutants from the United States (Yap et al, 2005).

The ozone annual means in Figure 4 display an increasing trend of 3 per cent for the 10-year period from 2005 to 2014. The trend of ozone summer means and ozone winter means are shown in Figure 5. The ozone summer means trend decreased by 8 per cent from 2005 to 2014, whereas the ozone winter means have increased by 13 per cent over the same 10- year period. The decrease in summer means over the past 10 years is largely due to the progressive reductions of NOX emissions in Ontario and the U.S. resulting in the decrease in local ozone formation and transboundary influences especially during the summer months. The increase in the ozone winter means are mainly attributed to the rising global background concentrations which in turn drives the increasing trend of ozone annual means (Reid et al, 2008). In general, even with the increase in ozone winter means, ozone concentrations during the winter months continue to remain well below the Ontario AAQC of 80 ppb.

Figure 4: Trend of Ozone Annual Means Across Ontario (2005‐2014)

Figure 4: Figure 4 is a scatter plot displayed with a trend line showing the trend of ozone annual means across Ontario from 2005 to 2014. The 10-year trend is a composite annual mean based on data from 40 monitoring sites. This figure shows an increasing trend of 3% for the 10-year period.

Figure 5: Trend of Ozone Summer and Winter Means Across Ontario (2005‐2014)

Figure 5: Figure 5 is a scatter plot displayed with two trend lines showing the trend of ozone summer and winter means across Ontario from 2005 to 2014. The 10-year trends are composite means for the summer and winter months based on data from 37 monitoring stations. Summer months are defined as May to September, and winter months are defined as January to April and October to December of the reporting year. This figure shows the ozone summer means have decreased by 8 per cent from 2005 to 2014, whereas the ozone winter means have increased by 13 per cent over the same 10-year period.

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

Airborne particulate is the general term used to describe a mixture of microscopic solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in air. Particulate matter is classified according to its aerodynamic size, mainly due to the different health effects associated with particles of different diameters. Fine particulate matter, denoted as PM2.5, refers to respirable particles that are less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, approximately 30 times smaller than the average diameter of a human hair. Due to their small size, they can penetrate deep into the lungs.

Particulate matter includes aerosols, smoke, fumes, dust, fly ash and pollen. Its composition is complex and varies with origin, residence time in the atmosphere, time of year and environmental conditions. Major components of PM2.5 in Ontario are typically nitrates, sulphates, organic matter and particle-bound water. Higher nitrate levels are common in the cooler months whereas sulphates are more elevated during warm temperatures. Fine particulate matter may be emitted directly into the atmosphere as a by-product of fuel combustion or it may be formed indirectly in the atmosphere through a series of complex chemical reactions. Major sources of PM2.5 include motor vehicles, smelters, power plants, industrial facilities, residential fireplaces and wood stoves, agricultural burning and forest fires.

The 2013 estimates for Ontario’s PM2.5 emissions from point, area and transportation sources (excluding emissions from open and natural sources) indicate residential fuel combustion accounted for 57 per cent. The major contributor to residential emissions is fuel wood combustion in fireplaces and wood stoves. Industrial processes and transportation sectors accounted for 21 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively (NPRI, 2015).

In 2013, as part of a national initiative funded by Environment Canada, Ontario upgraded all PM2.5 monitors across the ambient air monitoring network and started reporting with this new technology. While annual means and maximums are reported for 2014, 10-year trends for the entire ambient air monitoring network cannot be determined since the 2013 and 2014 PM2.5 data set is not directly comparable to data collected using the older technology. Ontario’s new PM2.5 measurement technology and 10-year trends are discussed further in Technical Discussion - New PM2.5 Measurement Technology in Ontario.

In 2014, 27 of the 40 AQI sites exceeded Ontario’s 24-hour PM2.5 reference level of 28 μg/m3 on at least one occasion. The PM2.5 24-hour maximum concentrations ranged from 17 μg/m3 in both Petawawa and Sault Ste. Marie to 46 μg/m3 recorded at Hamilton West. The 2014 PM2.5 annual mean concentrations ranged from 4.7 μg/m3 in Petawawa to 10.8 μg/m3 in downtown Hamilton. The geographical distribution of 24-hour PM2.5 exceedances above the 28 μg/m3 reference level across the province is shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Geographical Distribution of the # of Days Above the 24‐Hour PM2.5 Reference Level Across Ontario in 2014

Figure 6: Figure 6 is a map showing the geographical distribution of the number of days above the 24-hour fine particulate matter reference level across Ontario in 2014. The number of 24-hour fine particulate matter exceedances were experienced as follows: Windsor 3, Sarnia 1, Grand Bend 0, Tiverton 0, Chatham 1, Port Stanley 1, London 2, Brantford 1, St. Catharines 1, Hamilton 5, Burlington 4, Kitchener 7, Guelph 6, Oakville 5, Mississauga 5, Brampton 5, Toronto 4, Oshawa 0, Newmarket 1, Barrie 1, Peterborough 1, Belleville 0, Kingston 1, Morrisburg 1, Cornwall 1, Ottawa 0, Parry Sound 0, Dorset 0, Petawawa 0, North Bay 0, Sudbury 0, Sault Ste. Marie 0, and Thunder Bay 0.

The number of days above the 28 μg/m3 reference level is generally highest in border communities that are affected by transboundary pollutants, and in urban areas. During periods of elevated concentrations of PM2.5 in Ontario, notwithstanding forest fires, it is estimated that there are significant contributions from the U.S., specifically affecting border communities (Yap et al, 2005). Higher PM2.5 concentrations are often observed in urban areas during the winter months and are typically associated with relatively stagnant conditions and the development of strong temperature inversion conditions overnight, which can lead to pollutants being trapped at the surface.

Provincial PM2.5 emissions have decreased approximately 22 per cent from 2004 to 2013 as shown in Figure 7. Fine particulate matter emissions from electric utilities and industrial processes have been reduced approximately 47 per cent during this period. Emissions from the transportation sector decreased 43 per cent with the phase-in of new vehicles/engines having more stringent emission standards over the same period.

Figure 7: Ontario PM2.5 Emissions Trend (2004‐2013)

Figure 7: Figure 7 is a stacked column chart displaying the Ontario fine particulate matter emissions trend from 2004 to 2013. Provincial fine particulate matter emissions have decreased approximately 22% over this period. Please note that it excludes emissions from open and natural sources.

Technical Discussion

New PM2.5 Measurement Technology in Ontario

In 2002 Ontario became the first province in Canada to report hourly PM2.5 concentrations to the public under the AQI program utilizing Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM) instruments that provided continuous particulate matter (PM) monitoring. Continuous PM monitoring is essential for reporting hourly ambient concentrations. The TEOM was the most innovative method at the time for continuous real-time PM2.5 monitoring (Patashnick and Rupprecht, 1991), and continues to be used by many jurisdictions across North America.

Over the last decade, continuous PM2.5 monitoring technologies have evolved dramatically to address the technical issues associated with cold weather PM2.5 measurements. After extensive evaluation of four new PM2.5 monitors, it was determined that Ontario’s TEOM instruments did not perform as well as these new PM2.5 monitors, particularly during the winter. Ontario selected the Synchronized Hybrid Ambient Real-time Particulate (SHARP) 5030 to replace the aging TEOM monitors deployed in the AQI network. As part of a national initiative funded by Environment Canada, Ontario deployed the SHARP 5030 monitors in 2012 across the ambient air monitoring network for testing. In January 2013, Ontario commenced public reporting with the new SHARP 5030 instruments. The SHARP 5030 reports higher PM2.5 concentrations than the TEOM analyzer during cold weather due to the improved performance of the SHARP 5030 (Sofowote et al, 2014). This has resulted in an increase in Ontario’s PM2.5 annual mean in 2013 and 2014, however this is not an indication that the air quality has changed; only that the measurement is more accurate.

A network-wide trend using historical TEOM and 2013/2014 SHARP data cannot be determined as the two datasets are not directly comparable. In anticipation of this, TEOM and SHARP monitors were collocated at a sub-set of the air monitoring network to continue reporting annual trends and work towards making the new PM2.5 measurements comparable to historical data. Seven sites including Sarnia, Port Stanley, Hamilton Downtown, Toronto West, Ottawa Downtown, Cornwall and North Bay, were selected to be representative of Ontario’s PM2.5 network, taking into consideration the differences in air quality across the province. The 10-year PM2.5 trend for these sites, using TEOM technology, continues to show a decrease of PM2.5 levels. For the period of 2005 to 2014 a decrease of 31 per cent was observed (Figure 8). Additionally, Ontario developed corrections for historical TEOM measurements, for the fall and winter seasons, for the purpose of making them more comparable to SHARP measurements through a multiple linear regression analysis. This analysis, using collocated TEOM and SHARP instruments, showed that on average, annual SHARP measurements were 25 per cent higher than TEOM measurements (Sofowote et al, 2014). Using this as an approximate correction factor, Figure 8 displays an estimated SHARP-like 10-year trend that parallels the TEOM trend, and illustrates that Ontario’s air quality is still improving based on measurements using the new technology.

Figure 8: Trend of PM2.5 Annual Means at Select Sites Across Ontario (2005 - 2014)

Figure 8: Figure 8 is a scatter plot displayed with a trend line showing the trend of fine particulate matter, measured by TEOM operated at 30˚C with SES, for 7 selected sites across Ontario from 2005 to 2014. The 10-year trend is a composite annual mean based on data from Sarnia, Port Stanley, Hamilton Downtown, Toronto West, Ottawa Downtown, Cornwall and North Bay. The figure shows a decreasing trend of 31% for the 10-year period. The annual TEOM concentrations, in micrograms per metre cubed, are 8.9 for 2005, 7.6 for 2006, 7.7 for 2007, 7.1 for 2008, 6.0 for 2009, 6.4 for 2010, 6.6 for 2011, 6.5 for 2012, 5.8 for 2013 and 5.9 for 2014. Also displayed on the figure is the fine particulate matter 2013 and 2014 annual means measured by SHARP 5030 at the 7 selected sites along with an estimated SHARP-like ten year trend that parallels the TEOM trend. The annual SHARP concentration for 2013 is 7.8 micrograms per metre cubed and 8.1 micrograms per metre cubed for 2014.

With more accurate, but higher, reported PM2.5 values resulting from the implementation of SHARP instruments, achievement of PM2.5 reference levels and standards may be more challenging. In 2014, Kitchener exceeded the 24h PM2.5 reference level of 28 μg/m3 on 7 occasions, more than any other station in Ontario. Most of these days at Kitchener were marginally above the 28 μg/m3 reference level.

Other Air Pollutants

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

Nitrogen dioxide is a reddish-brown gas with a pungent odour, which transforms in the atmosphere to form gaseous nitric acid and nitrates. It plays a major role in atmospheric reactions that produce ground-level ozone, a major component of smog. Nitrogen dioxide also reacts in the air and contributes to the formation of PM2.5 (Seinfeld & Pandis, 2006). All combustion in air produces NOX, of which NO2 is a component. Major sources of NOX emissions include the transportation sector, industrial processes and utilities.

Nitrogen dioxide can irritate the lungs and lower their resistance to respiratory infection. People with asthma and bronchitis have increased sensitivity to NO2. Nitrogen dioxide chemically transforms into nitric acid in the atmosphere and, when deposited, contributes to the acidification of lakes and soils in Ontario. Nitric acid can also corrode metals, fade fabrics, degrade rubber, and damage trees and crops.

There were no exceedances of the provincial one-hour and 24-hour AAQC for NO2, 200 ppb and 100 ppb, respectively, at any of the monitoring locations in Ontario during 2014. The Toronto West air monitoring station, located in an area of Toronto influenced by significant vehicular traffic, recorded the highest NO2 annual mean (17.1 ppb) during 2014; whereas Tiverton, a rural site, recorded the lowest NO2 annual mean (2.7 ppb). The highest NO2 means were recorded in large urbanized areas, such as the Greater Toronto Area of southern Ontario. The Toronto East station recorded the highest one-hour NO2 concentration (89 ppb), and Toronto West recorded the highest 24-hour NO2 concentration (51 ppb). Both of these stations are located in close proximity to major roadways, and are designated as road-side monitoring stations.

The NO2 annual mean concentrations across Ontario have decreased 42 per cent from 2005 to 2014, as displayed in Figure 9. The NOX emission trend from 2004 to 2013 indicates a decrease of approximately 41 per cent as shown in Figure 10 (NPRI, 2015). Ontario’s emissions trading regulations on sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (O. Reg. 397/01 and O. Reg. 194/05) have contributed to the reduction in nitrogen oxides emissions in recent years. Nitrogen oxides emissions from on-road vehicles have also decreased due to the phase-in of new vehicles having more stringent emission standards. The implementation of the Ontario Drive Clean program in southern Ontario in 1999 has also helped further reduce the NOX emissions from light duty gasoline vehicles.

Figure 9: Trend of NO2 Annual Means Across Ontario (2005‐2014)

Figure 9: Figure 9 is a scatter plot displayed with a trend line showing the trend of nitrogen dioxide annual means across Ontario from 2005 to 2014. The trend is a composite mean based on data from 30 monitoring sites. The nitrogen dioxide annual mean concentrations across Ontario have decreased 42% from 2005 to 2014.

Figure 10: Ontario NOX Emissions Trend (2004 to 2013)

Figure 10: Figure 10 is a stacked column chart displaying the Ontario nitrogen oxides emissions trend from 2004 to 2013. The nitrogen oxides emission trend from 2004 to 2013 indicates a decrease of approximately 41%. Please note that it excludes emissions from open and natural sources.

Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)

Sulphur dioxide is a colourless gas that smells like burnt matches. It can also be oxidized in the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid aerosols. In addition, sulphur dioxide is a precursor to sulphates, one of the main components of airborne secondary PM2.5. Major sources of SO2 include smelters, industrial processes and electric utilities.

Health effects caused by exposure to high levels of SO2 include breathing problems, respiratory illness, and the exacerbation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease. People with asthma, chronic lung disease or heart disease are the most sensitive to SO2. Sulphur dioxide damages trees and crops. Similar to NO2, SO2 leads to the formation of PM2.5 and is also a precursor to acid rain, which contributes to the acidification of soils, lakes and streams, accelerated corrosion of buildings, and reduced visibility.

Smelters in central Ontario are the major sources of SO2 emissions in Ontario, accounting for approximately 68 per cent of the provincial SO2 emissions according to 2013 estimates for point, area and transportation sources (excluding emissions from open and natural sources). Electric utilities and other industrial processes (e.g. petroleum refining, cement and concrete manufacturing) accounted for an additional 29 per cent. The transportation sector and miscellaneous sources accounted for the remaining 3 per cent of all SO2 emissions in the province (NPRI, 2015).

There were no exceedances of the provincial 24-hour and annual AAQC for SO2 of 100 ppb and 20 ppb, respectively, at any of the monitoring locations in Ontario during 2014. There was one exceedance of the provincial one-hour AAQC for SO2 of 250 ppb in Sudbury. Hamilton Downtown recorded the highest SO2 annual mean (5.1 ppb) during 2014, and the highest 24-hour maximum concentration (40 ppb) was recorded at both Hamilton Downtown and Sarnia. Sudbury recorded the highest one-hour maximum concentration (297 ppb) during 2014.

The SO2 annual mean concentrations from 2005 to 2014 show a decreasing trend of 49 per cent across Ontario in Figure 11. Overall, provincial SO2 emissions have decreased by approximately 50 per cent from 2004 to 2013 as shown in Figure 12 (NPRI, 2015). The reduction of SO2 emissions over the years is the result of various initiatives, which include, but are not limited to,

  1. Control orders for Ontario smelters;
  2. Countdown Acid Rain program and Canada-wide Acid Rain Strategy;
  3. Ontario emissions trading regulations on sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (O. Reg. 397/01 and O. Reg. 194/05);
  4. Cessation of coal use in electricity generation; and
  5. Low sulphur content in transportation fuels.

NOX and SO2 electricity sector emissions trading regulation (O. Reg. 397/01) placed limits on Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) fossil fuel-fired generating stations starting 2002. Effective January 1, 2004 the program also applied to independent power producers (IPPs). The trading program was expanded in 2006 to include thirty facilities from seven industrial sectors. NOX and SO2 for electricity generators covered under the trading program have fallen by approximately 80% and 98% respectively between 2004 and 2014, largely because of coal closure. NOX and SO2 emissions for the industrial facilities regulated under the program have fallen by approximately 29% and 26% between 2006 and 2014. This decline is the result of a combination of factors including emissions reduction initiatives undertaken by facilities covered by the program and industry restructuring.

Figure 11: Trend of SO2 Annual Means Across Ontario (2005‐2014)

Figure 11: Figure 11 is a scatter plot displayed with a trend line showing the trend of sulphur dioxide annual means across Ontario from 2005 to 2014. The trend is a composite mean based on 10 sites. The sulphur dioxide annual mean concentrations from 2005 to 2014 show a decreasing trend of 49% across Ontario.

Figure 12: Ontario SO2 Emissions Trend (2004‐2013)

Figure 12: Figure 12 is a stacked column chart displaying the Ontario sulphur dioxide emissions trend from 2004 to 2013. Provincial sulphur dioxide emissions have reduced by approximately 50% from 2004 to 2013. Please note that it excludes emissions from open and natural sources.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless and, at high concentrations, poisonous gas. This gas can enter the bloodstream and reduce oxygen delivery to the organs and tissues. People with heart disease are particularly sensitive to CO. Exposure to high CO levels is associated with the impairment of vision, work capacity, learning ability and performance of complex tasks. Carbon monoxide is produced primarily by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. The 2013 estimates for point, area and transportation sources (excluding emissions from open and natural sources) indicate that the transportation sector accounted for 70 per cent of all CO emissions (NPRI, 2015).

In 2014 there were no exceedances of the provincial one-hour and eight-hour AAQC of 30 ppm and 13 ppm, respectively, at any of the monitoring locations in Ontario. Hamilton Downtown recorded the highest one-hour CO maximum of 2.88 parts per million (ppm) and Toronto West recorded the highest eight-hour maximum (1.07 ppm). Typically, higher CO concentrations are recorded in urban centres attributable to vehicle emissions.

The composite means of the one-hour and eight-hour CO maximums have decreased 40 per cent and 42 per cent, respectively, across the province from 2005 to 2014. Carbon monoxide emissions have been reduced by approximately 38 per cent from 2004 to 2013 (NPRI, 2015).

Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards

In May of 2013 the federal government published the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) as non-binding objectives under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The CAAQS were developed under the auspices of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) as outdoor air quality targets that “set the bar” for air quality actions across the country.

The CAAQS replaced the existing Canada-wide Standards (CWS) for ozone and PM2.5 in 2013 by setting stricter targets, and introducing an annual standard for PM2.5. An annual standard helps protect human health from long-term or chronic exposure to fine particles. The purpose of the CAAQS is to drive continuous improvement in air quality. Ontario’s ambient air quality will be compared to the new standards for the first time in 2015. Table 5.1 shows the standards for the 2015 target date for achieving the CAAQS.

Table 5.1: CCME Standards
TypeOzone 8hPM2.5 24hPM2.5 Annual
CAAQS63 ppb(1)28 μg/m3(2)10 μg/m3(3)

(1) based on the annual 4th highest daily maximum eight-hour running average, averaged over three consecutive years.

(2) based on the 98th percentile measurement annually, averaged over three consecutive years.

(3) based on the annual mean averaged over three consecutive years.

Table 5.2 displays the ozone and PM2.5 CAAQS metric values for CAAQS designated Ontario sites for 2014 (based on a three-year average, 2012-2014). The 2014 ozone CAAQS metric values ranged from 54 ppb reported for Thunder Bay to 73 ppb reported for Windsor Downtown. Only two of the 21 designated sites, Ottawa and Thunder Bay, met the CAAQS of 63 ppb for ozone in 2014. The 2014 24-hour PM2.5 CAAQS metric values ranged from 14 μg/m3 reported for both Sudbury and Thunder Bay to 25 μg/m3 reported for Hamilton Downtown. The 2014 annual PM2.5 CAAQS metric concentrations ranged from 5.2 μg/m3 reported for Sudbury to 9.7 μg/m3 reported for Hamilton Downtown. There were no exceedances of either PM2.5 CAAQS in 2014 at any of the 21 CAAQS designated sites.

Table 5.2: Ozone and PM2.5 CAAQS Metric Values for Designated Sites Across Ontario (2014)
City/Town8h Ozone (ppb)24h PM2.5 μg/m3Annual PM2.5 μg/m3
Windsor Downtown73*218.9
Chatham71*187.6
London71*218.1
Brantford70*218.0
Kitchener68*228.0
Guelph69*207.6
St. Catharines67*197.9
Hamilton Downtown65*259.7
Hamilton Mountain69*228.4
Burlington68*228.2
Oakville68*207.5
Mississauga66*217.5
Brampton68*217.7
Toronto69*218.1
Oshawa65*186.9
Barrie64*196.9
Peterborough67*176.4
Kingston70*196.7
Ottawa Downtown59186.3
Sudbury64*145.2
Thunder Bay54145.7

Note:

Designated sites include communities with populations greater than 100,000.

The CAAQS for ozone is based on the consecutive three year average of the annual 4th highest daily maximum eight-hour running average.

The CAAQS for 24h PM2.5 is based on the 98th percentile measurement annually, averaged over three consecutive years.

The CAAQS for annual PM2.5 is based on the annual mean averaged over three consecutive years. Toronto reporting is based on Toronto Downtown, Toronto North, Toronto East and Toronto West stations.

*Indicates an exceedance of the CAAQS

Outdoor concentrations of ozone and PM2.5 can be influenced by emission sources that are outside the control of provinces and territories, such as transboundary flows and exceptional events including forest fires. The Guidance Document on Achievement Determination for the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards for Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone (2012) guides provinces and territories in the consideration of transboundary flows and exceptional events when implementing management actions, and in conveying to the public that a standard was not achieved as a result of these influences.

To demonstrate the influence of transboundary flows, a preliminary weight of evidence (WOE) analysis was conducted for selected sites, Windsor Downtown, Toronto, Sudbury and Kitchener, where the ozone CAAQS was exceeded in 2014. A comprehensive network-wide assessment of transboundary influence using WOE will be completed for 2015, the first year that achievement will be assessed relative to the CAAQS. The WOE approach consists of performing, evaluating and documenting a series of technical analyses that collectively support the conclusion that exceedances of the standard using WOE on a given day were influenced by, in this case, transboundary flows. Table 5.3a shows the 2014 ozone CAAQS metric values including and excluding transboundary flow days for Windsor Downtown, Toronto, Sudbury and Kitchener. The WOE approach confirms that these four Ontario cities listed in Table 5.3a would have met the ozone CAAQS if they had not been influenced by days with transboundary flow. Table 5.3b displays the number of transboundary flow days that were removed for each of the four sites using WOE.

Table 5.3a: Ozone CAAQS Metric Values Using the Weight of Evidence Approach (2014)
CityTransboundary Flow Days4th Highest Daily Max 8h Running Average3y CAAQS Metric Value
201220132014
Windsor Downtownincluded82.968.069.373*
Windsor Downtownexcluded62.357.460.060
Torontoincluded76.367.264.069*
Torontoexcluded53.862.057.458
Sudburyincluded72.860.859.064*
Sudburyexcluded52.360.859.057
Kitchenerincluded73.565.664.968*
Kitchenerexcluded58.554.655.856

Note: Ozone concentrations reported in ppb.

*Indicates an exceedance of the CAAQS

Table 5.3b: Number of Transboundary Flow Days Removed by Year
City/Town201220132014
Windsor Downtown401715
Toronto4347
Sudbury2700
Kitchener301915

Transboundary influences, mainly from the U.S., account for approximately half of Ontario’s smog on high concentration days. Emission reductions in Ontario and the U.S. have contributed to decreases in PM2.5 and ozone precursors. However, while outdoor concentrations have improved, the province continues to experience high levels of ozone due to transboundary air pollution which can result in exceedances of the ozone standard. It is therefore important to consider the influence of transboundary flows using WOE for each CAAQS designated monitoring station when reporting on achievement of the CAAQS.

Air Quality Index and Smog Advisories

Ontario Air Quality Index (AQI)

The Air Quality Office of the Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch continuously collects near real-time data for criteria pollutants from 40 AQI sites as displayed in Map A1 of the Appendix. The AQI, based on pollutants that have adverse effects on human health and the environment, includes O3, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO and TRS compounds. At the end of each hour, the concentration of each pollutant measured at each site is converted into a number ranging from zero upwards using a common scale or index. The calculated number for each pollutant is a sub-index value. At a given air monitoring site, the highest sub-index value for any given hour becomes the reporting AQI for that hour. The index is a relative scale, in that the lower the index, the better the air quality. Index values between 0 and 15 are very good, 16-31 good, 32-49 moderate, 50-99 poor, and 100+ are very poor. The Air Quality Ontario website provides index values, corresponding categories, and potential health and environmental effects.

Based on the AQI categories, in 2014, Ontario reported very good to good air quality 94 per cent of the time, and moderate to poor air quality 6 per cent of the time. Table A19 of the Appendix provides the percentage distribution of hourly AQI readings for each of the 40 monitoring sites by AQI category and the number of poor air quality days.

Smog Advisories

Smog advisories are issued to the public in advance when AQI values are expected to be in the poor category due to elevated, widespread and persistent levels, generally 3 or more hours in duration. Smog advisories are typically issued for elevated levels of O3 and/or PM2.5 but can be issued for other pollutants. Smog advisories are usually issued 24 hours in advance; however, if elevated smog conditions occur suddenly, and weather conditions conducive to elevated smog levels are expected to continue for several hours, a smog advisory is issued effective immediately. Note that a smog advisory is a forecast and does not necessarily mean elevated smog is a certainty since it is based on weather forecasts.

Smog advisories are issued via the Air Quality Ontario website, and through email notification as per the Smog Alert Network. (To receive a direct email notification of a smog advisory, visit the ministry web site and subscribe to the Smog Alert Network).

2014 was the first time since the start of the program in 1993 that no smog advisories were issued in Ontario. This can be attributed to reductions in both emissions and pollutant concentrations, along with a relatively cool summer in 2014. Table A20 of the Appendix summarizes the number of smog advisories issued for Ontario from 2005 to 2014.

Access to air quality information

Near real-time and historic pollutant concentration data and index values are available to the public (24 hours per day, 7 days a week) from across the province on the ministry’s web site. The public can also access index values via the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. (To access an English recording, call 1.800.387.7768, or in Toronto, call 416.246.0411. For a French recording, call 1.800.221.8852). The ministry’s web site also provides daily air quality forecasts, based on regional meteorological conditions and current pollution levels in Ontario and bordering U.S. states.

Federal air quality health index (AQHI)

In September 2006, Health Canada proposed the AQHI, an air quality health index that derives a value based on the cumulative health effects of three pollutants – O3, PM2.5 and NO2. It is being developed and implemented by Health Canada with the assistance of Environment Canada and all provinces. The AQHI for Canada informs the public about health risks associated with air quality and encourages the public to make their own decisions or modify their behaviour depending on how they are individually affected by air quality. In 2007, the ministry began participating in the development of the national AQHI by providing Environment Canada with air quality data for a pilot program taking place in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) including Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, Brampton, Newmarket, Toronto and Oshawa. This pilot program was then expanded over the years to include Windsor, London, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa, Barrie, Dorset and Sault Ste. Marie.

In 2014, the ministry established an AQHI Steering Committee, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and the federal government (Health Canada and Environment Canada), to determine the best path forward for reporting air quality in the province. The ministry intends to implement the AQHI across Ontario in 2015 by combining the best features of the AQI and the federal AQHI to report on air quality and associated health information for Ontarians. For more information on the federal AQHI, please visit the Air Quality Health Index website.

Glossary

Air Quality Index
real-time information system that provides the public with an indication of air quality in cities, towns and in rural areas across Ontario.
AQI station
continuous monitoring station used to inform the public of general ambient air quality levels over an entire region (not a localized area) on a real-time basis; station reports on criteria pollutant levels that are not unduly influenced by a single emission source, but rather are the result of emissions from multiple sources, including those in neighbouring provinces and states.
Ambient air
outdoor or open air.
Annual mean
the average value of hourly data for a given year.
Carbon monoxide
a colourless, odourless, tasteless, and at high concentrations, poisonous gas.
Continuous pollutants
pollutants for which a continuous record exists; effectively, pollutants that have hourly data (maximum 8,760 values per year except leap year – e.g. 2004 where maximum values for the year are 8,784).
Continuous station
where pollutants are measured on a real-time basis and data determined hourly (for example ozone, sulphur dioxide).
Criterion
maximum concentration or level (based on potential effects) of pollutant that is desirable or considered acceptable in ambient air.
Exceedance
violation of the air pollutant concentration levels established by environmental protection criteria or other environmental standards.
Fine Particulate Matter
particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres in aerodynamic diameter, which arise mainly from fuel combustion, condensation of hot vapours and chemically-driven gas-to-particle conversion processes; also referred to as PM2.5 or respirable particles. These are fine enough to penetrate deep into the lungs.
Fossil fuels
natural gas, petroleum, coal and any form of solid, liquid or gaseous fuel derived from organic materials for the purpose of generating heat.
Ground-level ozone
colourless gas formed from chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight near the Earth’s surface.
Micrometre
a millionth of a metre.
Nitrogen dioxide
a reddish-brown gas with a pungent and irritating odour.
Oxidation
a chemical reaction where a substance gains an oxygen; for example, in the atmosphere, sulphur dioxide is oxidized by hydroxyl radicals to form sulphate.
Particulate matter
The general term used to describe a mixture of microscopic solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in air.
Percentile value
percentage of the data set that is equal to or lies below the stated value; if the 70 percentile value is 0.10 ppm, then 70 per cent of the data are equal to or below 0.10 ppm.
Primary pollutant
pollutant emitted directly to the atmosphere.
Secondary pollutant
pollutant formed from other pollutants in the atmosphere.
Smog
a contraction of smoke and fog; colloquial term used for photochemical smog, which includes ozone, and may include fine particulate matter, and other contaminants; tends to be a brownish haze.
Smog advisory
smog advisories are issued to the public when there is a strong likelihood that widespread, elevated and persistent smog levels are expected.
Stratosphere
atmosphere 10 to 40 kilometres above the Earth’s surface.
Stratospheric ozone
ozone formed in the stratosphere from the conversion of oxygen molecules by solar radiation; ozone found there absorbs some of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation and prevents it from reaching the Earth.
Sulphur dioxide
a colourless gas that smells like burnt matches.
Troposphere
atmospheric layer extending from the surface up to about 10 kilometres above the Earth’s surface.

Acronyms

AAQC
Ambient Air Quality Criteria (Ontario)
AQI
Air Quality Index
CO
carbon monoxide
CAAQS
Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard
IVR
Interactive Voice Response
NO
nitric oxide
NO2
nitrogen dioxide
NOX
nitrogen oxides
O3
ozone
PM2.5
fine particulate matter
SES (TEOM)
Sample Equilibration System
SHARP
Synchronized Hybrid Ambient Real-time Particulate
SO2
sulphur dioxide
TEOM
Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance
TRS
total reduced sulphur
VOCs
volatile organic compounds
WOE
weight of evidence
kt
kilotonnes
µg/m3
micrograms (of contaminant) per cubic metre (of air) – by weight
ppb
parts (of contaminant) per billion (parts of air) – by volume
ppm
parts (of contaminant) per million (parts of air) – by volume

References

  1. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, 2012. Guidance Document on Achievement Determination: Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter and Ozone.
  2. Federal Register. 2006. 40 CFR Parts 53 and 58: Revisions to Ambient Air Monitoring Regulations; Final Rule. 71 (200), 61236-61328. October 17, 2006.
  3. NPRI, 2014. National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) Downloadable Datasets. Environment Canada.
  4. Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. 2015. Air Quality in Ontario 2013 Report.
  5. Patashnick, H. and E.G. Rupprecht. 1991. Continuous PM-10 Measurements Using the Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, Vol. 41, pp. 1079-1083.
  6. Seinfeld, J.H. and S.N. Pandis. 2006. Atmospheric chemistry and physics: From air pollution to climate change. (2nd ed.) New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
  7. Sofowote, U. and F. Dempsey. 2015. Impacts of Forest Fires on Ambient near Real- Time PM2.5 in Ontario, Canada: Meteorological Analyses and Source Apportionment of the July 2011-2013 Episodes. Atmospheric Pollution Research, doi: 10.5094/APR.2015.001.
  8. Sofowote, U., Su, Y., Bitzos, M.M., and Munoz, A. 2014. Improving the Correlations of Ambient TEOM PM2.5 Data and SHARP 5030 FEM in Ontario: a Multiple Linear Regression Analysis. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 64:1, 104- 114.
  9. United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 2011. List of Designated Reference and Equivalent Methods. Issue Date: October 12, 2011.
  10. Yap, D., Reid, N., De Brou, G. and R. Bloxam. 2005. Transboundary Air Pollution in Ontario. Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

Resources

  1. Brook, J.R., Dann, T. and R.T. Burnett. 1997. The Relationship among TSP, PM10, PM2.5 and Inorganic Constituents of Atmospheric Particulate Matter at Multiple Canadian Locations. Journal of Air and Waste Management Association, Vol 46, pp. 2- 18.
  2. Burnett, R.T., Dales, R.E., Krewski, D., Vincent, R., Dann, T., and J.R. Brook. 1995. Associations between Ambient Particulate Sulphate and Admissions to Ontario Hospitals for Cardiac and Respiratory Diseases. American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 142, pp. 15-22.
  3. Fraser, D., Yap, D., Kiely, P. and D. Mignacca. 1991. Analysis of Persistent Ozone Episodes in Southern Ontario 1980-1991. Technology Transfer Conference, Toronto, 1991. Proceedings AP14, pp. 222-227.
  4. Geddes, J.A., Murphy, J.G. and D.K.Wang. 2009. Long term changes in nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in Toronto and the challenges facing local ozone control. Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 43, pp. 3407-3415.
  5. Itano, Y., Bandow, H., Takenaka, N., Saitoh, Y., Asayama, A. and J. Fukuyama. 2007. Impact of NOX reduction on long-term ozone trends in an urban atmosphere. Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 379, pp. 46-55.
  6. Lin, C.C.-Y., Jacob, D.J., Munger, J.W., and A.M. Fiore. 2000. Increasing Background Ozone in Surface Air Over the United States. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 27 (21), pp. 3465-3468.
  7. Lioy, P., 1991. Assessing Human Exposure to Airborne Pollutants. Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 25, pp. 1360.
  8. Lipfert, F.W. and T. Hammerstrom. 1992. Temporal Patterns in Air Pollution and Hospital Admissions. Environmental Research, Vol. 59, pp. 374-399.
  9. Lippmann, M. 1991. Health Effects of Tropospheric Ozone. Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 25, No. 12, pp. 1954-1962.
  10. Logan, J. A., Staehelin, J., Megretskaia, I. A., Cammas, J.-P., Thouret, V., Claude, H., Backer, H. D., Steinbacher, M., Scheel, H.-E., Stubi, R., Frohlich, M., and R. G. Derwent. 2012. Changes in ozone over Europe: Analysis of ozone measurements from sondes, regular aircraft (MOZAIC) and alpine surface sites. Journal of Geophysical Research, 117, D09301, doi:10.1029/2011JD016952.
  11. Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 2011. Air Quality Publications. Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
  12. Pengelly, L.D., Silverman, F. and C.H. Goldsmith. 1992. Health Effects of Air Pollution Assessed Using Ontario Health Survey Data. Urban Air Group, McMaster University.Air Quality in Ontario, 2014 Report 24 | P a g e RESOURCES
  13. Reid, N., Yap, D. and R. Bloxam. 2008. The potential role of background ozone on current and emerging air issues: An overview. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, Vol. 1, pp. 19-29.
  14. Rethinking the Ozone Problem in Urban and Regional Air Pollution. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1991.
  15. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2003. Latest Findings on National Air Quality, 2002 Status and Trends.
  16. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2003. National Air Quality and Emission Trends, 2003 Special Studies Edition.
  17. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2004. Particle Pollution Report, Current Understanding of Air Quality and Emissions through 2003.
  18. Vingarzan, R. 2004. A review of surface ozone background levels and trends. Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 38, pp. 3431-42.
  19. Wolff, G.T., Kelley, N.A. and M.A. Ferman. 1982. Source Regions of Summertime Ozone and Haze Episodes in the Eastern U.S. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 18: pp. 65- 81.
  20. Yap, D., Ning, D.T. and W. Dong. 1988. An Assessment of Source Contribution to the Ozone Concentrations in Southern Ontario. Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 22, No. 6, pp. 1161-1168.

Acknowledgements

This report has been prepared by the staff of the Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. Environment Canada’s National Air Pollution Surveillance program is acknowledged for providing air monitoring instrumentation to the province of Ontario.

For more information:
Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Public Information Centre
Telephone: 416-325-4000
Toll free: 1-800-565-4923
Ministry of the environment email
Ministry of the environment website
© Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2015
PIBS# 9795e

Appendix

The Appendix is intended for use in conjunction with the 2014 Annual Air Quality in Ontario Report. The Appendix briefly describes the provincial Air Quality Index (AQI) network, quality assurance and quality control procedures, and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change’s air quality database. It also includes a series of tables displaying station locations and a listing of the summary statistics including means, maximums, percentile values and the number of exceedances of the Ontario Ambient Air Quality Criteria (AAQC) for each pollutant. In addition, trends for select pollutants are displayed for 10- and 20-year periods.

Monitoring network operations

Network Description

In 2014, the Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch (EMRB) operated 40 ambient air monitoring sites across Ontario as part of the AQI network. Monitoring site locations for the AQI network are illustrated in Map A1. The AQI network was comprised of 134 continuous monitoring instruments at 40 sites. These instruments have the capability of recording minute data (approximately 70 million data points per year) that are used to scan and validate the continuous hourly data.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Day-to-day maintenance and support of the instruments are administered by EMRB staff. Instrumentation precision is verified by daily automatic internal zero and span checks. Data analysts and station operators review span control charts to confirm instrument precision using a telemetry system. A quarterly quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) review is performed on the ambient data set in order to highlight anomalies and administer corrective action in a timely manner.

The air monitoring station operators routinely inspect and maintain monitoring equipment and stations with mandatory bi-monthly on-site visits where secondary transfer standards are used to calibrate instrumentation. Station maintenance activities are recorded using FieldWorker Inc. software, an electronic documentation solution; this information is transferred directly to the ministry’s database. The instrumentation used throughout the provincial air monitoring network has been standardized to Thermo Electron Corporation analyzers in an effort to streamline parts inventory and leverage common hardware used within each analyzer. The following is a summary of the instrumentation deployed within the network and are all US EPA designated equivalent methods:

  • Ozone – TE49C/I
  • Fine Particulate Matter – SHARP 5030
  • Nitrogen Oxides – TE42C/I
  • Carbon Monoxide – TE48C/I
  • Total Reduced Sulphur – TE43C/CDN101
  • Sulphur Dioxide – TE43C/I

EMRB operates a laboratory with gas reference standards that adhere to those of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Air Quality Research Division of Environment Canada. The secondary transfer standards used by station operators are referenced and certified to EMRB’s NIST primary standards on a quarterly basis.

The Ontario ambient air quality monitoring network undergoes constant maintenance to ensure a high standard of quality control. Continuous real-time data are consistently reviewed, assessed and validated by EMRB staff. Immediate actions are taken to correct any inconsistencies that may affect the validity of the data. These measures ensure ambient air monitoring data are valid, complete, comparable, representative and accurate. As a result, the 2014 ambient air quality monitoring network had greater than 98 per cent valid data from over one million hourly data points.

Data Base

The ambient air quality data used in this report are stored in the ministry’s air quality information system (AQUIS). A statistical pattern test is used to identify data anomalies, such as unusual pollutant concentrations. Each pollutant has a predetermined concentration range based on historical data. Values outside this range are flagged for further investigation.

Data obtained from automated ambient air monitoring instruments that operate continuously to produce an average measurement for every hour for a possible total of 8,760 measurements in a given year. Hourly parameters measured include O3, PM2.5, NO/NO2/NOX , CO, SO2 and TRS compounds. A valid annual mean requires at least 6,570 hourly readings. In addition, the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the year should have 75 per cent valid data for ozone, whereas for PM2.5, each quarter of the year should have 75 per cent valid data.

Network descriptive table, annual statistics and trends

The AQI network for 2014 is summarized in Table A1. The table displays the station name, numerical identifier and pollutants measured. The numerical identifier is the station (ID) number, the first digit of which identifies the geographic region in which the station is located.

Table A1 also identifies the type of air monitoring site: ambient, road-side, Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standard (CAAQS), and/or National Air Pollution Surveillance (NAPS). Ambient sites represent the general air quality of an area without any direct influence of local industrial sources. Road-side sites are within approximately 100 m of a major roadway with daily traffic volumes greater than 10,000 vehicles per day.

The 2014 statistical data and 10-year trends for various continuous pollutants are provided in Tables A2-A9, and Tables A10-A18, respectively. To be included in the 10-year trend analysis, a site must have valid annual means for a minimum of 8 years over the 10-year period from 2005-2014. The 20-year trends for ozone, NO2 and SO2 are provided in Figures A1-A27, Figures A28-A43, and Figures A44-A51, respectively. To be included in the 20-year trend analysis, a site must have valid annual means for a minimum of 15 years over the 20-year period from 1995-2014. A linear regression was applied to each of the 20-year trends presented to calculate the per cent change in concentrations over time.

Map A1: Air Quality Index (AQI) Monitoring Sites Across Ontario in 2014

Map A1: Map A1 is a map depicting the Air Quality Index monitoring sites across Ontario in 2014.

Table A1: 2014 Ontario Continuous Ambient Air Monitoring Network
IDStation NameStation LocationYearLatitude (D:M:S)Longitude (D:M:S)Air Intake (AGL)TypeAQIO3PM2.5NO2SO2COTRS
12008Windsor Downtown467 University Ave. W.196942°18'56.8"-83°02'37.2"8A/RS/C/NYTTTTT.
12016Windsor WestCollege Ave./South St.197542°17'34.4"-83°04'23.3"4A/NYTTTT.T
13001Chatham435 Grand Ave. W.200542°24'13.3"-82°12'29.9"15A/C/NYTTT...
14064SarniaFront St. N./CN Tracks, Centennial Park197842°58'56.2"-82°24'18.3"3A/NYTTTT.T
15020Grand BendPoint Blake Conservation Area199143°19'59.1"-81°44'34.4"5A/NYTTT...
15026London42 St. Julien St.201342°58'28.1"-81°12'03.1"5A/C/NYTTT...
16015Port Stanley43665 Dexter Line, Elgin Water T. Plant200242°40'19.5"-81°09'46.4"5A/NYTT....
18007Tiverton4th Concession/Bruce Rd. 23197944°18'52.1"-81°32'59.0"4A/NYTTT...
21005Brantford324 Grand River Ave.200443°08'19.0"-80°17'33.5"5A/C/NYTTT...
26060KitchenerWest Ave./Homewood Ave.199043°26'37.8"-80°30'13.7"5A/C/NYTTT...
27067St. CatharinesArgyle Cres., Pump Stn.198743°09'36.2"-79°14'05.1"4A/C/NYTTT...
28028GuelphExhibition St./Clark St. W.200043°33'05.8"-80°15'51.0"4A/C/NYTTT...
29000Hamilton DowntownElgin St./Kelly St.198743°15'28.0"-79°51'42.0"4A/RS/C/NYTTTTTT
29114Hamilton MountainVickers Rd./E. 18th St.198543°13'45.9"-79°51'46.0"3A/C/NYTTTT..
29118Hamilton WestMain St. W./Hwy 403198543°15'26.8"-79°54'27.9"3A/RSYTTT...
31103Toronto DowntownBay St./Wellesley St. W.200043°39'46.7"-79°23'17.2"10A/RS/C/NYTTT...
33003Toronto EastKennedy Rd./Lawrence Ave. E.197043°44'52.5"-79°16'26.6"4A/RS/C/NYTTT...
34020Toronto NorthHendon Ave./Yonge St.198843°46'53.8"-79°25'03.8"5A/RS/C/NYTTT...
35125Toronto West125 Resources Rd.200343°42'34.0"-79°32'36.6"8A/RS/C/NYTTTTT.
44008BurlingtonNorth Shore Blvd. E./Lakeshore Rd.197943°18'54.4"-79°48'09.5"5A/C/NYTTT...
44017OakvilleEighth Line/Glenashton Dr., Halton Reservoir200343°29'12.9"-79°42'08.2"12A/C/NYTTT...
45026Oshawa2000 Simcoe St. N., Durham College200543°56'45.4"-78°53'41.7"7A/RS/C/NYTTT...
46089Brampton525 Main St. N., Peel Manor200043°41'55.5"-79°46'51.3"5A/C/NYTTT...
46108Mississauga3359 Mississauga Rd. N., U of T Mississauga200743°32'49.1"-79°39'31.3"5A/C/NYTTTT..
47045Barrie83 Perry St.200144°22'56.5"-79°42'08.3"5A/C/NYTTT...
48006NewmarketEagle St. W./McCaffrey Rd.200144°02'39.5"-79°28'59.7"5A/NYTTT...
49005Parry Sound7 Bay St.200145°20'16.3"-80°02'17.4"5A/NYTTT...
49010Dorset1026 Bellwood Acres Rd.198145°13'27.4"-78°55'58.6"3A/NYTT....
51001Ottawa DowntownRideau St./Wurtemburg St.197145°26'03.6"-75°40'33.6"4A/C/NYTTTTT.
51002Ottawa Central960 Carling Ave.200745°22'57.1"-75°42'51.1"5A/NYTTT...
51010PetawawaPetawawa Research Forest Facility200745°59'48.2"-77°26'28.3"6A/NYTT....
52023Kingston23 Beechgrove Lane201444°13'11.5"-76°31'16.1"5A/C/NYTTT...
54012Belleville2 Sidney St., Water Treatment Plant200244°09'01.9"-77°23'43.8"10A/NYTTT...
56010MorrisburgCounty Rd. 2, Morrisburg Water Tower200544°53'59.1"-75°11'23.8"5A/NYTT....
56051CornwallBedford St./3rd St. W.197045°01'04.7"-74°44'06.8"4A/NYTTT...
59006Peterborough10 Hospital Dr.199844°18'06.9"-78°20'46.4"10A/C/NYTTT...
63203Thunder Bay421 James St. S.200448°22'45.8"-89°17'24.6"15A/RS/C/NYTTT...
71078Sault Ste. MarieSault College200446°31'59.5"-84°18'35.7"8A/NYTTTT.T
75010North BayChippewa St. W., Dept. National Defence197946°19'23.5"-79°26'57.4"4A/RS/NYTTT...
77233Sudbury155 Elm St.201346°29'31.0"-81°00'11.2"3A/C/NYTTTT..
Total404040361044

Notes:

ID
station identfication number
Year
year station began monitoring
Air intake
height of air intake above ground (m)
Type
type of monitoring site: A = ambient, RS = road-side, C = CAAQS, N = NAPS
AQI
Air Quality Index site
T
telemetry
O3
ground-level ozone
PM2.5
fine particulate matter
NO2
nitrogen dioxide
CO
carbon monoxide
SO2
sulphur dioxide
TRS
total reduced sulphur
Table A2: 2014 Ozone (O3) Annual Statistics
Unit: parts per billion (ppb)
O3 1h AAQC: 80 ppb
IDCityLocationValid hPercentilesMeanMaximum 1hMaximum 24hNo. of Times Above Criterion 1h
10%30%50%70%90%99%
12008Windsor Downtown467 University Ave. W.85688182533446526.078530
12016Windsor WestCollege Ave./South St.84908192634466627.286523
13001Chatham435 Grand Ave. W.874514222835466229.378530
14064SarniaFront St. N./CN Tracks, Centennial Park864911202733436127.179490
15020Grand BendPoint Blake Conservation Area866416253137456431.090574
15026London42 St. Julien St.86639212835456228.182611
16015Port Stanley43665 Dexter Line, Elgin Water T. Plant869617263238486432.387603
18007Tiverton4th Concession/Bruce Rd. 23859918263237446131.886601
21005Brantford324 Grand River Ave.849910223036476229.480590
26060KitchenerWest Ave./Homewood Ave.872811212834435927.376570
27067St. CatharinesArgyle Cres., Pump Stn.867411232935435828.570550
28028GuelphExhibition St./Clark St. W.862611212834446027.879570
29000Hamilton DowntownElgin St./Kelly St.86719192531415925.374560
29114Hamilton MountainVickers Rd./E. 18th St.865613232935456129.179610
29118Hamilton WestMain St. W./Hwy 40387394162430385222.770520
31103Toronto DowntownBay St./Wellesley St. W.871010192532425725.780550
33003Toronto EastKennedy Rd./Lawrence Ave. E.86606172330405523.473520
34020Toronto NorthHendon Ave./Yonge St.86969182531415825.382571
35125Toronto West125 Resources Rd.86733132027395621.172480
44008BurlingtonNorth Shore Blvd. E./Lakeshore Rd.86799192632415725.573500
44017OakvilleEighth Line/Glenashton Dr., Halton Res.873611212734435727.272560
45026Oshawa2000 Simcoe St. N., Durham College866411202734425727.273460
46089Brampton525 Main St. N., Peel Manor86578192734435826.580600
46108Mississauga3359 Mississauga Rd. N., U of T Campus86537182632425725.476580
47045Barrie83 Perry St.87339192532415325.668490
48006NewmarketEagle St. W./McCaffrey Rd.869013222935445828.687593
49005Parry Sound7 Bay St.874015243035435629.674600
49010Dorset1026 Bellwood Acres Rd.872811222834435427.779560
51001Ottawa DowntownRideau St./Wurtemburg St.854110182531405024.864500
51002Ottawa Central960 Carling Ave.868311202733415326.663480
51010PetawawaPetawawa Research Forest Facility873311212833415226.868500
52023Kingston23 Beechgrove Lane868616263137466131.481571
54012Belleville2 Sidney St., Water Treatment Plant874614242936456029.680570
56010MorrisburgCounty Rd. 2, Morrisburg Water Tower875012222934425327.974480
56051CornwallBedford St./3rd St. W.864612212833425227.370490
59006Peterborough10 Hospital Dr.870814232935445929.274600
63203Thunder Bay421 James St. S.84427182530364623.470470
71078Sault Ste. MarieSault College867614222834435528.473540
75010North BayChippewa St. W., Dept. National Defence857510202833415426.771530
77233Sudbury155 Elm St.867111202732415526.373560
Table A3: 2014 Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Annual Statistics
Unit: micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3)
PM2.5 24h Reference Level: 28 μg/m3
IDCityLocationValid hPercentilesMeanMaximum 1hMaximum 24hNo. of Times Above Reference Level 24h
10%30%50%70%90%99%
12008Windsor Downtown467 University Ave. W.862446912193110.171291
12016Windsor WestCollege Ave./South St.872646913203410.784313
13001Chatham435 Grand Ave. W.85623571016288.651341
14064SarniaFront St. N./CN Tracks, Centennial Park86533571018339.0105411
15020Grand BendPoint Blake Conservation Area8654246917318.172280
15026London42 St. Julien St.85813571016348.858302
16015Port Stanley43665 Dexter Line, Elgin Water T. Plant81822571016298.248341
18007Tiverton4th Concession/Bruce Rd. 238581235813246.540270
21005Brantford324 Grand River Ave.86883571018349.260291
26060KitchenerWest Ave./Homewood Ave.84883571118369.364327
27067St. CatharinesArgyle Cres., Pump Stn.86813571016298.865291
28028GuelphExhibition St./Clark St. W.85723571017378.964376
29000Hamilton DowntownElgin St./Kelly St.871836913213810.878455
29114Hamilton MountainVickers Rd./E. 18th St.87043581119359.461321
29118Hamilton WestMain St. W./Hwy 40387323581119379.986464
31103Toronto DowntownBay St./Wellesley St. W.87203571017318.752333
33003Toronto EastKennedy Rd./Lawrence Ave. E.86873571017348.960333
34020Toronto NorthHendon Ave./Yonge St.86093571117349.258332
35125Toronto West125 Resources Rd.86853571017359.165354
44008BurlingtonNorth Shore Blvd. E./Lakeshore Rd.87043581118359.664424
44017OakvilleEighth Line/Glenashton Dr., Halton Res.87273571016328.569365
45026Oshawa2000 Simcoe St. N., Durham College8676246915287.747270
46089Brampton525 Main St. N., Peel Manor86753571018358.985425
46108Mississauga3359 Mississauga Rd. N., U of T Campus87153571016348.762405
47045Barrie83 Perry St.8715246916297.650291
48006NewmarketEagle St. W./McCaffrey Rd.8711136915307.359301
49005Parry Sound7 Bay St.8416235711205.843250
49010Dorset1026 Bellwood Acres Rd.8618134611205.341200
51001Ottawa DowntownRideau St./Wurtemburg St.8622246814277.080270
51002Ottawa Central960 Carling Ave.8441245813286.845270
51010PetawawaPetawawa Research Forest Facility870023459164.734170
52023Kingston23 Beechgrove Lane8675245813246.852301
54012Belleville2 Sidney St., Water Treatment Plant8722246813246.843230
56010MorrisburgCounty Rd. 2, Morrisburg Water Tower8633246813257.056331
56051CornwallBedford St./3rd St. W.8699246813267.058311
59006Peterborough10 Hospital Dr.8637245814246.961291
63203Thunder Bay421 James St. S.8253235813256.648210
71078Sault Ste. MarieSault College8624235712216.051170
75010North BayChippewa St. W., Dept. National Defence8616234610205.343180
77233Sudbury155 Elm St.8693235712226.060240

Note: Measurements taken by Synchronized Hybrid Ambient Real-time Particulate (SHARP) 5030.

Table A4: 2014 Nitric Oxide (NO) Annual Statistics
Unit: parts per billion (ppb)
IDCityLocationValid hPercentilesMeanMaximum 1hMaximum 24h
10%30%50%70%90%99%
12008Windsor Downtown467 University Ave. W.868501239464.015850
12016Windsor WestCollege Ave./South St.826901138423.826437
13001Chatham435 Grand Ave. W.873100114151.56413
14064SarniaFront St. N./CN Tracks, Centennial Park859800115241.914235
15020Grand BendPoint Blake Conservation Area87040000140.2113
15026London42 St. Julien St.866600012201.310129
18007Tiverton4th Concession/Bruce Rd. 23862300013101.33810
21005Brantford324 Grand River Ave.847900002150.97614
26060KitchenerWest Ave./Homewood Ave.872800012261.614456
27067St. CatharinesArgyle Cres., Pump Stn.867700113211.710529
28028GuelphExhibition St./Clark St. W.862600012201.210620
29000Hamilton DowntownElgin St./Kelly St.864201139513.921171
29114Hamilton MountainVickers Rd./E. 18th St.863500114212.08224
29118Hamilton WestMain St. W./Hwy 4038661012414665.922785
31103Toronto DowntownBay St./Wellesley St. W.854700126262.59934
33003Toronto EastKennedy Rd./Lawrence Ave. E.8669113513556.231691
34020Toronto NorthHendon Ave./Yonge St.8709012310424.323174
35125Toronto West125 Resources Rd.8546014923879.528289
44008BurlingtonNorth Shore Blvd. E./Lakeshore Rd.8674012310554.619161
44017OakvilleEighth Line/Glenashton Dr., Halton Res.868801237333.413636
45026Oshawa2000 Simcoe St. N., Durham College873400124202.09322
46089Brampton525 Main St. N., Peel Manor863701128564.020954
46108Mississauga3359 Mississauga Rd. N., U of T Campus860600115452.920059
47045Barrie83 Perry St.873112225383.717325
48006NewmarketEagle St. W./McCaffrey Rd.868600013201.413231
49005Parry Sound7 Bay St.87300000190.6515
51001Ottawa DowntownRideau St./Wurtemburg St.867701124161.98812
51002Ottawa Central960 Carling Ave.868300012161.08419
52023Kingston23 Beechgrove Lane86840001270.87812
54012Belleville2 Sidney St., Water Treatment Plant874400013151.211718
56051CornwallBedford St./3rd St. W.863800112201.517142
59006Peterborough10 Hospital Dr.865601123171.89328
63203Thunder Bay421 James St. S.8441112311394.212928
71078Sault Ste. MarieSault College867511124142.0749
75010North BayChippewa St. W., Dept. National Defence854211124292.610919
77233Sudbury155 Elm St.866611226383.316840
Table A5: 2014 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Annual Statistics
Unit: parts per billion (ppb)
NO2 1h AAQC: 200 ppb
NO2 24h AAQC: 100 ppb
IDCityLocationValid hPercentilesMeanMaximum 1hMaximum 24hNo. of Times Above Criteria 1hNo. of Times Above Criteria 24h
10%30%50%70%90%99%
12008Windsor Downtown467 University Ave. W.8685581116274814.0684200
12016Windsor WestCollege Ave./South St.8269361014234111.8733700
13001Chatham435 Grand Ave. W.8718345813276.8512500
14064SarniaFront St. N./CN Tracks, Centennial Park85982471120339.0593600
15020Grand BendPoint Blake Conservation Area870401247143.1411500
15026London42 St. Julien St.8667245813336.9533200
18007Tiverton4th Concession/Bruce Rd. 23862311235102.7251100
21005Brantford324 Grand River Ave.7694124612295.5512600
26060KitchenerWest Ave./Homewood Ave.8728235814347.0593500
27067St. CatharinesArgyle Cres., Pump Stn.8677245815297.3532700
28028GuelphExhibition St./Clark St. W.8626235814367.1543300
29000Hamilton DowntownElgin St./Kelly St.8642471015244212.4674700
29114Hamilton MountainVickers Rd./E. 18th St.86383471020379.3643500
29118Hamilton WestMain St. W./Hwy 4038661471015254212.8664300
31103Toronto DowntownBay St./Wellesley St. W.8548691216254414.0654200
33003Toronto EastKennedy Rd./Lawrence Ave. E.8669581216275014.2894800
34020Toronto NorthHendon Ave./Yonge St.8708471117264513.4694300
35125Toronto West125 Resources Rd.85466101520315417.1835100
44008BurlingtonNorth Shore Blvd. E./Lakeshore Rd.867436913224010.9603800
44017OakvilleEighth Line/Glenashton Dr., Halton Res.8688246917398.2624100
45026Oshawa2000 Simcoe St. N., Durham College8734235814296.8452700
46089Brampton525 Main St. N., Peel Manor863724712244610.6664400
46108Mississauga3359 Mississauga Rd. N., U of T Campus86053471119409.2734100
47045Barrie83 Perry St.8731246817438.1643000
48006NewmarketEagle St. W./McCaffrey Rd.8686234714396.8623600
49005Parry Sound7 Bay St.873011237193.3391200
51001Ottawa DowntownRideau St./Wurtemburg St.8677235816327.4462500
51002Ottawa Central960 Carling Ave.8683124613356.0552700
52023Kingston23 Beechgrove Lane868412349223.9451500
54012Belleville2 Sidney St., Water Treatment Plant8744123510274.5462000
56051CornwallBedford St./3rd St. W.8638124612345.6603600
59006Peterborough10 Hospital Dr.8656124611315.3432700
63203Thunder Bay421 James St. S.8441235918357.8512700
71078Sault Ste. MarieSault College8675124612265.3511800
75010North BayChippewa St. W., Dept. National Defence8542123512365.6462500
77233Sudbury155 Elm St.8666235815427.3582800
Table A6: 2014 Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) Annual Statistics
Unit: parts per billion (ppb)
IDCityLocationValid hPercentilesMeanMaximum 1hMaximum 24h
10%30%50%70%90%99%
12008Windsor Downtown467 University Ave. W.8685691320358718.022592
12016Windsor WestCollege Ave./South St.8266481117307515.733774
13001Chatham435 Grand Ave. W.8718346916378.210336
14064SarniaFront St. N./CN Tracks, Centennial Park859824813235110.920155
15020Grand BendPoint Blake Conservation Area870401248163.44717
15026London42 St. Julien St.8666246916448.314360
18007Tiverton4th Concession/Bruce Rd. 23862312358144.04114
21005Brantford324 Grand River Ave.7694124614416.410939
26060KitchenerWest Ave./Homewood Ave.8728246916548.519691
27067St. CatharinesArgyle Cres., Pump Stn.8677346918479.115348
28028GuelphExhibition St./Clark St. W.8626246916528.515452
29000Hamilton DowntownElgin St./Kelly St.8642581217318616.3278118
29114Hamilton MountainVickers Rd./E. 18th St.862735812245311.314557
29118Hamilton WestMain St. W./Hwy 4038661581220399918.7293129
31103Toronto DowntownBay St./Wellesley St. W.85486101318306316.516276
33003Toronto EastKennedy Rd./Lawrence Ave. E.86696101522399920.4396139
34020Toronto NorthHendon Ave./Yonge St.8709481320358017.7300116
35125Toronto West125 Resources Rd.854671220295213626.5362140
44008BurlingtonNorth Shore Blvd. E./Lakeshore Rd.8672371116309015.525198
44017OakvilleEighth Line/Glenashton Dr., Halton Res.868835812246411.617677
45026Oshawa2000 Simcoe St. N., Durham College8734246918478.813249
46089Brampton525 Main St. N., Peel Manor863735915329214.624884
46108Mississauga3359 Mississauga Rd. N., U of T Campus860535812247712.1273100
47045Barrie83 Perry St.873146811227811.822153
48006NewmarketEagle St. W./McCaffrey Rd.8686235816558.219364
49005Parry Sound7 Bay St.873012248244.08913
51001Ottawa DowntownRideau St./Wurtemburg St.86773471019449.311337
51002Ottawa Central960 Carling Ave.8683234715447.112944
52023Kingston23 Beechgrove Lane8684123510284.811828
54012Belleville2 Sidney St., Water Treatment Plant8744123612395.715837
56051CornwallBedford St./3rd St. W.8638134714517.023179
59006Peterborough10 Hospital Dr.8656235714447.113454
63203Thunder Bay421 James St. S.844134712276711.916348
71078Sault Ste. MarieSault College8675235715367.312527
75010North BayChippewa St. W., Dept. National Defence8541235716648.115541
77233Sudbury155 Elm St.866634610217610.622668
Table A7: 2014 Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) Annual Statistics
Unit: parts per billion (ppb)
SO2 1h AAQC: 250 ppb
SO2 24h AAQC: 100 ppb
SO2 1y AAQC: 20 ppb
IDCityLocationValid hPercentilesMeanMaximum 1hMaximum 24hNo. of Times Above Criteria 1hNo. of Times Above Criteria 24hNo. of Times Above Criteria 1y
10%30%50%70%90%99%
12008Windsor Downtown467 University Ave. W.870300126252.46620000
12016Windsor WestCollege Ave./South St.828600128252.85924000
14064SarniaFront St. N./CN Tracks, Centennial Park866000129443.59540000
29000Hamilton DowntownElgin St./Kelly St.8673001217555.112240000
29114Hamilton MountainVickers Rd./E. 18th St.859500128322.910627000
35125Toronto West125 Resources Rd.86700011150.7216000
46108Mississauga3359 Mississauga Rd. N., U of T Campus86540112361.3386000
51001Ottawa DowntownRideau St./Wurtemburg St.86610000120.382000
71078Sault Ste. MarieSault College867400001170.85311000
77233Sudbury155 Elm St.868100016342.429726100
Table A8: 2014 Carbon Monoxide (CO) Annual Statistics
Unit: parts per million (ppm)
CO 1h AAQC: 30 ppm
CO 8h AAQC: 13 ppm
IDCityLocationValid hPercentilesMeanMaximum 1hMaximum 8hNo. of Times Above Criteria 1h 8hNo. of Times Above Criteria 8h
10%30%50%70%90%99%
12008Windsor Downtown467 University Ave. W.85710.170.200.230.290.420.760.271.810.8900
29000Hamilton DowntownElgin St./Kelly St.86870.160.190.220.270.400.760.262.880.9800
35125Toronto West125 Resources Rd.83900.170.200.230.270.370.690.261.61.0700
51001Ottawa DowntownRideau St./Wurtemburg St.85590.140.160.180.210.280.430.20.80.5700
Table A9: 2014 Total Reduced Sulphur (TRS) Compounds Annual Statistics
Unit: parts per billion (ppb)
IDCityLocationValid hPercentilesMeanMaximum 1hMaximum 24h
10%30%50%70%90%99%
12016Windsor WestCollege Ave./South St.84600000130.2102
14064SarniaFront St. N./CN Tracks, Centennial Park87080011230.853
29000Hamilton DowntownElgin St./Kelly St.85330001130.452
71078Sault Ste. MarieSault College86500000010.041
Table A10: 10y Trend for O3 Annual Mean (ppb)
IDCity/Town2005200620072008200920102011201220132014Change Over Time
12008Windsor Downtown25.324.627.026.924.828.027.228.026.926.0 7%
12016Windsor West25.624.325.325.924.926.726.428.026.727.2 10%
13001Chatham31.028.730.930.928.831.929.729.529.629.3 3%
14064Sarnia27.426.728.628.726.630.729.729.728.627.1 5%
15020Grand Bend32.529.731.731.329.635.032.833.232.331.0 4%
15026London26.125.127.227.025.128.226.827.728.728.1 10%
16015Port Stanley34.632.434.334.330.934.632.833.133.932.3 3%
18007Tiverton31.829.034.332.631.433.832.132.032.431.8 2%
21005Brantford27.927.028.928.426.529.428.728.829.029.4 6%
26060Kitchener28.026.628.628.127.029.427.628.028.027.3→ 0%
27067St. Catharines26.326.228.127.525.628.328.028.728.628.5 9%
28028Guelph28.626.828.127.927.330.728.928.829.027.8 4%
29000Hamilton Downtown23.323.224.825.124.326.925.425.725.025.3 9%
29114Hamilton Mountain28.227.529.229.027.229.728.830.229.529.1 6%
29118Hamilton West21.220.923.023.321.824.524.224.224.422.7 13%
31103Toronto Downtown24.522.625.726.024.626.125.426.626.225.7 9%
33003Toronto East22.422.023.221.622.123.023.324.624.123.4 9%
34020Toronto North24.523.324.522.722.124.823.625.725.325.3 7%
35125Toronto West20.319.021.120.719.520.620.121.521.521.1 7%
44008Burlington23.923.524.624.924.126.625.926.726.425.5 12%
44017Oakville27.726.127.527.025.528.026.827.728.327.2 3%
45026Oshawa28.625.128.027.025.528.026.627.027.227.2→ 0%
46089Brampton26.825.526.826.625.227.526.126.626.726.5 1%
46108Mississauga23.122.423.324.624.025.924.125.625.225.4 13%
47045Barrie26.924.125.926.524.326.825.326.325.525.6→ 0%
48006Newmarket30.828.831.729.528.631.527.829.428.728.6 6%
49005Parry Sound33.830.731.832.129.731.329.730.130.429.6 9%
49010Dorset32.328.929.929.327.728.627.028.028.127.7 11%
51001Ottawa Downtown23.323.624.723.323.425.724.226.025.624.8 9%
51002Ottawa Centraln/aINS26.527.424.726.624.825.626.626.6 1%
51010Petawawan/aINS28.327.627.327.926.727.727.626.8 3%
52023Kingstonn/aINS33.932.730.332.630.332.730.331.4 6%
54012Belleville29.429.232.029.828.530.027.928.029.229.6 4%
56010Morrisburg27.828.029.227.926.128.627.228.228.727.9→ 0%
56051Cornwall27.727.528.326.625.527.926.127.126.927.3 3%
59006Peterborough31.224.927.628.227.730.527.929.128.629.2 3%
63203Thunder Bay22.323.524.223.024.225.725.225.026.323.4 10%
71078Sault Ste. Marie30.229.129.728.927.828.427.828.828.928.4 5%
75010North Bay28.026.727.127.726.128.026.726.127.426.7 2%
77233Sudbury31.028.428.127.925.928.728.728.527.226.3 8%

Notes:

n/a indicates pollutant not monitored.
INS indicates there was insufficient data in the 2nd and/or 3rd quarter to calculate a valid annual mean.
Station 15026 replaced station 15025 as the London site in 2013.
Station 45026 replaced station 45025 as the Oshawa site in 2005.
Station 46108 replaced station 46109 as the Mississauga site in 2008.
Station 52023 replaced station 52022 as the Kingston site in 2014.
Station 77233 replaced station 77219 as the Sudbury site in 2013.

Table A11: 10y Trend for O3 Summer Means (May - September)
Summer Mean (ppb)
IDCity/Town2005200620072008200920102011201220132014Change Over Time
12008Windsor Downtown35.632.636.334.130.434.633.836.832.530.9 6%
12016Windsor West35.831.933.532.129.531.831.935.730.930.9 6%
13001Chatham39.535.538.236.732.636.534.436.634.232.4 12%
14064Sarnia34.132.034.233.028.634.332.936.632.029.4 4%
15020Grand Bend36.333.534.932.429.737.833.938.933.131.5 2%
15026London33.931.233.231.628.432.530.734.430.929.5 6%
16015Port Stanley42.338.540.438.833.238.935.538.436.933.7 14%
18007Tiverton33.330.438.334.030.333.331.736.032.530.8 4%
21005Brantford33.531.833.631.027.531.631.133.530.129.9 7%
26060Kitchener34.332.034.231.028.831.630.233.529.828.5 12%
27067St. Catharines33.632.633.931.227.732.031.235.031.229.5 6%
28028Guelph34.031.533.130.428.732.531.334.530.428.9 7%
29000Hamilton Downtown30.429.230.829.828.231.628.732.428.427.5 4%
29114Hamilton Mountain36.733.736.133.631.034.432.337.432.531.6 7%
29118Hamilton West25.725.326.926.723.927.926.229.226.422.7 1%
31103Toronto Downtown31.928.733.230.927.931.129.533.330.128.9 3%
33003Toronto East30.627.228.324.925.226.727.430.627.125.9 4%
34020Toronto North30.228.629.926.425.628.027.532.729.428.6 2%
35125Toronto West26.524.325.924.822.524.323.627.524.423.5 4%
44008Burlington30.229.230.028.326.730.229.232.529.227.4 1%
44017Oakville34.431.732.830.828.231.529.934.230.628.3 9%
45026OshawaINS28.031.528.326.429.528.531.128.327.9 1%
46089Brampton31.731.331.931.028.530.829.332.729.528.9 6%
46108Mississauga31.628.528.627.326.229.026.730.426.526.5 9%
47045Barrie30.728.128.630.025.027.926.229.725.625.4 13%
48006Newmarket36.133.736.032.130.934.430.534.230.329.4 15%
49005Parry Sound36.933.333.632.228.630.428.732.830.128.2 18%
49010Dorset33.029.230.027.225.025.223.828.325.324.4 22%
51001Ottawa Downtown27.226.528.224.924.626.125.129.326.524.6 3%
51002Ottawa Centraln/aINS27.925.326.325.429.427.026.226.2→ 0%
51010Petawawan/aINS26.724.724.423.822.828.124.522.9 6%
52023Kingstonn/aINS39.335.432.535.932.038.532.432.7 11%
54012Belleville35.634.137.032.330.634.229.932.730.630.4 15%
56010Morrisburg30.630.631.627.826.729.527.131.128.226.8 9%
56051Cornwall31.829.831.127.627.129.826.730.728.127.0 10%
59006Peterborough36.527.230.031.629.232.029.834.229.530.0 4%
63203Thunder Bay23.624.724.621.324.223.924.225.324.722.7 1%
71078Sault Ste. Marie32.031.431.528.427.527.226.430.328.227.4 13%
75010North Bay31.029.028.528.326.528.426.328.526.926.2 11%
77233Sudbury32.430.129.526.025.726.326.929.828.027.0 11%

Notes:

n/a indicates pollutant not monitored.
INS indicates there was insufficient data to calculate a valid summer mean.
Station 15026 replaced station 15025 as the London site in 2013.
Station 45026 replaced station 45025 as the Oshawa site in 2005.
Station 46108 replaced station 46109 as the Mississauga site in 2008.
Station 52023 replaced station 52022 as the Kingston site in 2014.
Station 77233 replaced station 77219 as the Sudbury site in 2013.

Table A12: 10y Trend for O3 Winter Means (January-April, October-December)
Winter Mean (ppb)
IDCity/Town2005200620072008200920102011201220132014Change Over Time
12008Windsor Downtown16.518.820.321.720.823.222.521.722.822.8 29%
12016Windsor West18.218.819.421.521.622.822.522.323.424.5 32%
13001Chatham25.123.925.426.826.128.526.724.326.227.1 7%
14064SarniaINS23.024.725.525.228.127.424.726.225.4 8%
15020Grand Bend29.826.829.430.529.533.032.129.131.830.6 9%
15026London20.420.722.823.722.825.024.222.926.927.1 28%
16015Port Stanley29.228.030.031.029.431.531.029.331.831.3 8%
18007Tiverton30.728.231.531.732.334.132.229.232.432.7 7%
21005Brantford23.923.625.526.625.827.827.125.428.328.8 18%
26060Kitchener23.422.724.626.025.927.825.724.026.726.5 12%
27067St. Catharines20.921.724.124.924.125.625.824.126.827.9 26%
28028Guelph24.823.424.826.126.429.327.224.828.027.0 13%
29000Hamilton Downtown18.218.920.521.721.523.523.120.922.523.7 24%
29114Hamilton Mountain22.123.024.225.724.526.326.325.027.327.3 20%
29118Hamilton West17.917.820.120.920.422.122.720.623.022.8 27%
31103Toronto Downtown19.118.220.422.222.422.422.621.823.523.5 24%
33003Toronto East17.518.219.519.319.920.420.420.322.021.6 22%
34020Toronto North20.419.420.720.119.522.520.820.722.322.8 13%
35125Toronto West15.815.117.717.717.418.017.717.219.519.4 21%
44008Burlington19.319.320.722.522.323.923.522.524.424.1 26%
44017Oakville22.822.023.724.423.625.524.723.126.626.5 16%
45026Oshawa24.123.025.625.724.926.925.224.126.426.7 9%
46089Brampton23.321.423.123.422.825.223.822.224.624.8 9%
46108Mississauga17.018.019.222.822.523.722.522.224.324.7 39%
47045Barrie24.221.324.024.223.826.024.723.925.525.8 11%
48006Newmarket27.025.328.627.627.129.425.826.027.528.1 2%
49005Parry Sound31.628.930.632.030.531.930.428.130.630.6 2%
49010Dorset31.828.630.130.729.631.029.527.730.130.1 3%
51001Ottawa Downtown20.721.422.022.222.625.523.623.524.925.1 20%
51002Ottawa Centraln/aINS25.627.024.126.824.522.926.326.9→ 0%
51010Petawawan/aINS29.529.629.530.829.527.529.929.6 1%
52023Kingstonn/aINS30.130.628.630.029.028.628.830.4 2%
54012Belleville25.125.828.428.026.927.026.424.628.229.1 6%
56010Morrisburg25.726.227.527.925.728.027.526.029.128.7 8%
56051Cornwall24.825.926.326.024.526.525.724.225.727.6 3%
59006Peterborough27.323.325.926.026.729.526.625.528.028.6 10%
63203Thunder Bay21.722.623.924.324.227.126.124.727.423.8 16%
71078Sault Ste. Marie28.927.528.629.328.429.328.927.629.429.2 2%
75010North Bay25.925.026.227.225.827.727.024.427.827.1 5%
77233Sudbury30.027.227.229.326.030.530.027.626.625.8 6%

Notes:

n/a indicates pollutant not monitored.
INS indicates there was insufficient data to calculate a valid winter mean.
Station 15026 replaced station 15025 as the London site in 2013.
Station 45026 replaced station 45025 as the Oshawa site in 2005.
Station 46108 replaced station 46109 as the Mississauga site in 2008.
Station 52023 replaced station 52022 as the Kingston site in 2014.
Station 77233 replaced station 77219 as the Sudbury site in 2013.

Ontario’s move to new measurement technology in 2013 has resulted in increased PM2.5 annual means; the increases are not an indication that the air quality has changed, but that the measurements are more accurate. For more information see Technical Discussion – New PM2.5 Measurement Technology in Ontario.
Table A13: 10y Summary for PM2.5
Annual Mean (µg/m3)
IDCity/Town2005200620072008200920102011201220132014
12008Windsor Downtown10.48.29.58.37.27.77.67.49.210.1
12016Windsor West10.59.29.88.97.47.87.87.610.010.7
13001Chatham9.17.47.97.36.36.56.66.08.18.6
14064Sarnia12.911.312.211.49.810.410.510.28.5 (7.0*)9.0 (6.7*)
15020Grand Bend7.46.56.76.85.86.16.15.87.38.1
15026London8.86.96.56.85.7INS6.26.59.18.8
16015Port Stanley8.67.37.26.75.65.96.05.97.4 (5.3*)8.2 (5.6*)
18007Tiverton6.65.65.65.04.04.54.7INS5.86.5
21005Brantford8.97.67.76.85.86.56.66.28.59.2
26060Kitchener9.57.78.07.15.86.36.26.08.79.3
27067St. Catharines8.67.98.27.46.06.56.36.38.58.8
28028Guelph8.87.07.56.55.65.75.95.88.18.9
29000Hamilton Downtown10.09.18.98.36.87.78.18.310.1 (7.8*)10.8 (8.5)
29114Hamilton Mountain9.88.17.87.36.36.26.76.59.29.4
29118Hamilton West9.68.28.37.66.16.87.17.39.69.9
31103Toronto Downtown8.57.37.36.65.66.06.26.48.38.7
33003Toronto East8.47.67.86.75.96.76.26.38.28.9
34020Toronto North9.47.67.87.35.96.27.77.38.39.2
35125Toronto West10.08.28.47.56.16.56.97.18.8 (6.6*)9.1 (6.7*)
44008Burlington9.17.67.36.95.96.26.26.48.79.6
44017Oakville8.97.47.66.75.35.76.46.18.08.5
45026Oshawa8.16.86.86.35.25.65.55.57.47.7
46089Brampton8.97.27.46.85.65.86.05.78.58.9
46108Mississauga9.27.67.27.15.86.16.06.07.98.7
47045Barrie8.16.76.96.15.25.45.75.67.57.6
48006Newmarket7.76.46.66.05.15.65.55.67.37.3
49005Parry Sound6.15.35.54.73.94.44.74.85.85.8
49010Dorset5.84.55.04.53.64.04.14.15.45.3
51001Ottawa Downtown7.76.16.05.34.64.54.94.87.0 (5.1*)7.0 (4.8*)
51002Ottawa Centraln/aINS5.85.14.44.34.55.07.16.8
51010Petawawan/aINS4.03.93.13.23.43.64.84.7
52023Kingstonn/aINS7.57.06.46.56.96.86.56.8
54012Belleville7.06.26.26.14.9INS4.85.16.96.8
56010Morrisburg7.06.86.25.75.05.35.25.06.77.0
56051Cornwall7.66.56.46.15.45.75.75.47.7 (5.2*)7.0 (5.1*)
59006Peterborough7.56.36.46.04.95.15.54.97.46.9
63203Thunder Bay4.44.84.44.23.84.14.84.16.36.6
71078Sault Ste. Marie5.45.25.34.44.04.14.44.45.66.0
75010North Bay5.64.95.04.63.83.84.24.15.2 (3.8*)5.3 (3.8*)
77233Sudbury5.14.64.94.13.43.64.04.05.76.0

Notes:

* For data comparison purposes, measurements were taken by Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM) sampler at selected sites. From 2004-2012, measurements taken by TEOM sampler operated at 30°C with a Sample Equilibration System (SES).
As of 2013, measurements taken by Synchronized Hybrid Ambient Real-time Particulate (SHARP) 5030. Due to change in the PM2.5 monitoring method in 2013, it is inappropriate to calculate a change over time. n/a indicates pollutant not monitored.
INS indicates there was insufficient data in any one quarter to calculate a valid annual mean.
Station 15026 replaced station 15025 as the London site in 2013.
Station 45026 replaced station 45025 as the Oshawa site in 2005.
Station 46108 replaced station 46109 as the Mississauga site in 2008.
Station 52023 replaced station 52022 as the Kingston site in 2014.
Station 77233 replaced station 77219 as the Sudbury site in 2013.

Table A14: 10y Trend for NO
Annual Mean (ppb)
IDCity/Town2005200620072008200920102011201220132014Change Over Time
12008Windsor Downtown7.87.26.45.95.64.74.54.73.74.0 53%
12016Windsor West8.37.26.55.15.46.13.84.63.63.8 56%
13001Chatham2.52.62.43.13.52.61.91.81.61.5 43%
14064Sarnia3.83.73.23.22.82.23.12.11.71.9 53%
15026London5.54.43.63.12.82.93.34.21.41.3 64%
18007Tivertonn/aINS0.20.20.40.70.90.70.11.3not available
21005Brantford3.82.51.81.31.71.31.21.11.20.9 78%
26060Kitchener4.43.52.72.52.12.52.02.11.61.6 64%
27067St. Catharines5.55.54.53.63.72.82.32.52.21.7 73%
29000Hamilton Downtown9.98.07.76.55.85.04.84.64.33.9 62%
29114Hamilton Mountainn/a3.63.22.42.52.22.31.92.02.0 48%
31103Toronto Downtown7.27.05.95.05.14.13.42.82.72.5 72%
33003Toronto East14.412.510.89.27.87.87.66.65.76.2 63%
34020Toronto North10.810.08.37.77.15.76.25.04.14.3 65%
35125Toronto West26.120.117.516.213.513.412.411.38.69.5 67%
44008Burlington12.39.88.86.55.95.04.64.64.64.6 71%
44017Oakville5.24.33.94.03.53.62.73.42.13.4 44%
45026OshawaINS3.83.23.23.02.32.32.11.52.0 56%
46089Brampton8.99.16.05.86.53.74.64.44.64.0 60%
47045Barrie7.18.05.55.55.14.33.83.23.23.7 62%
48006Newmarket3.53.02.22.63.22.32.22.01.51.4 54%
51001Ottawa Downtown3.33.03.42.72.41.61.82.42.11.9 45%
51002Ottawa Centraln/aINS2.42.71.81.41.52.02.81.0 29%
52023Kingstonn/aINS0.61.10.60.30.50.40.20.8 43%
54012Belleville4.53.03.23.01.92.32.31.61.71.2 70%
56051Cornwalln/a3.13.53.63.22.01.92.21.91.5 65%
59006Peterboroughn/a2.52.33.01.91.72.21.81.71.8 36%
63203Thunder Bayn/a6.15.45.15.74.65.95.14.74.2 22%
71078Sault Ste. MarieINS1.61.41.41.81.92.01.71.32.0 18%
75010North Bay3.74.43.53.84.23.44.02.92.52.6 34%

Notes:

n/a indicates pollutant not monitored.
INS indicates there was insufficient data to calculate a valid annual mean.
The measured NO concentrations at Tiverton are mostly below instrument detection limits and are considered regional background levels. As such, a meaningful change over time could not be calculated with any statistical significance.
Station 15026 replaced station 15025 as the London site in 2013.
Station 45026 replaced station 45025 as the Oshawa site in 2005.
Station 52023 replaced station 52022 as the Kingston site in 2014.

Table A15: 10y Trend for NO2
Annual Mean (ppb)
IDCity/Town2005200620072008200920102011201220132014Change Over Time
12008Windsor Downtown16.917.217.215.214.415.614.513.212.414.0 26%
12016Windsor West17.115.716.116.213.214.512.911.411.511.8 35%
13001Chatham11.09.58.67.07.56.46.65.76.06.8 44%
14064Sarnia12.711.011.310.88.28.08.68.68.19.0 35%
15026London14.112.311.710.89.08.88.36.36.46.9 58%
18007Tivertonn/aINS2.93.02.31.92.52.51.92.7 19%
21005Brantford10.18.87.76.97.35.86.15.44.85.5 50%
26060Kitchener12.910.89.79.08.67.77.77.16.77.0 48%
27067St. Catharines13.111.712.010.49.99.18.58.17.77.3 46%
29000Hamilton Downtown19.317.017.014.713.612.713.511.912.412.4 38%
29114Hamilton Mountainn/a11.611.910.59.98.99.98.69.09.3 25%
31103Toronto Downtown20.719.218.217.016.516.114.913.413.514.0 36%
33003Toronto East20.117.417.216.514.914.815.214.013.614.2 29%
34020Toronto North19.217.416.716.515.814.315.413.412.913.4 31%
35125Toronto West26.622.322.120.819.020.119.116.316.117.1 36%
44008Burlington17.216.216.013.612.512.211.811.011.010.9 41%
44017Oakville14.512.513.012.011.19.210.39.19.28.2 42%
45026OshawaINS8.98.18.57.47.27.05.65.96.8 33%
46089Brampton16.915.213.913.113.310.711.310.49.110.6 43%
47045Barrie13.812.611.510.89.98.78.68.17.88.1 46%
48006Newmarket8.59.08.38.07.87.28.17.26.86.8 23%
51001Ottawa Downtown9.88.68.711.48.67.47.97.87.97.4 24%
51002Ottawa Centraln/aINS7.98.16.66.26.66.66.66.0 22%
52023Kingstonn/aINS5.55.55.04.34.64.03.63.9 35%
54012Belleville8.24.56.47.36.05.56.34.74.74.5 34%
56051Cornwalln/a6.77.67.57.36.56.56.16.25.6 25%
59006Peterboroughn/a6.36.47.05.65.04.33.75.05.3 33%
63203Thunder Bayn/a8.18.78.18.47.88.67.37.37.8 11%
71078Sault Ste. MarieINS5.25.05.55.15.55.34.85.05.3 2%
75010North Bay6.87.77.47.58.27.67.46.15.85.6 21%

Notes:

n/a indicates pollutant not monitored.
INS indicates there was insufficient data to calculate a valid annual mean.
Station 15026 replaced station 15025 as the London site in 2013.
Station 45026 replaced station 45025 as the Oshawa site in 2005.
Station 52023 replaced station 52022 as the Kingston site in 2014.

Table A16: 10y Trend for NOX
Annual Mean (ppb)
IDCity/Town2005200620072008200920102011201220132014Change Over Time
12008Windsor Downtown24.924.423.621.120.020.218.917.816.218.0 34%
12016Windsor West25.622.822.621.318.620.616.716.015.215.7 42%
13001Chatham13.512.111.010.110.99.08.47.57.78.2 44%
14064Sarnia16.814.714.513.911.010.211.710.79.810.9 40%
15026London19.416.715.313.911.911.711.610.57.88.3 59%
18007Tivertonn/aINS3.03.32.72.63.43.12.14.0 8%
21005Brantford13.711.39.58.29.17.27.36.75.76.4 57%
26060Kitchener17.414.312.411.510.810.39.69.28.38.5 52%
27067St. Catharines18.817.216.514.013.711.810.910.69.99.1 54%
29000Hamilton Downtown30.124.924.721.219.517.818.316.616.816.3 47%
29114Hamilton Mountainn/a15.315.112.912.411.212.210.511.011.3 30%
31103Toronto Downtown28.226.124.222.121.620.318.416.216.116.5 46%
33003Toronto East34.729.928.025.722.722.622.820.619.420.4 43%
34020Toronto North30.427.525.024.322.820.021.518.517.017.7 44%
35125Toronto West52.442.439.637.032.533.531.527.624.726.5 51%
44008Burlington29.326.024.820.018.417.216.415.615.615.5 52%
44017Oakville19.516.716.916.114.612.813.012.611.211.6 42%
45026OshawaINS12.711.311.710.49.59.27.87.48.8 39%
46089Brampton25.924.219.918.919.914.415.914.813.914.6 48%
47045Barrie21.020.617.016.315.113.112.411.311.011.8 52%
48006Newmarket12.211.810.410.411.09.510.39.28.48.2 31%
51001Ottawa Downtown13.711.512.014.011.09.09.710.210.19.3 31%
51002Ottawa Centraln/aINS10.210.88.47.58.18.79.47.1 23%
52023Kingstonn/aINS6.36.55.74.75.34.63.84.8 35%
54012Belleville12.67.59.610.27.97.88.76.46.35.7 46%
56051Cornwalln/a9.811.011.110.68.58.48.48.07.0 38%
59006Peterboroughn/a8.88.610.07.56.76.65.46.67.1 34%
63203Thunder Bayn/a14.214.113.214.112.414.512.412.011.9 15%
71078Sault Ste. MarieINS6.96.46.96.97.47.26.46.37.3 1%
75010North Bay11.212.110.911.312.411.011.59.18.38.1 28%

Notes:

n/a indicates pollutant not monitored.
INS indicates there was insufficient data to calculate a valid annual mean.
Station 15026 replaced station 15025 as the London site in 2013.
Station 45026 replaced station 45025 as the Oshawa site in 2005.
Station 52023 replaced station 52022 as the Kingston site in 2014.

Table A17: 10y Trend for CO
1h Maximum (ppm)
CO 1h AAQC: 30 ppm
IDCity/Town2005200620072008200920102011201220132014Change Over Time
12008Windsor Downtown1.32.95.01.31.42.53.82.11.91.8 18%
29000Hamilton Downtown2.62.86.03.35.02.21.81.72.02.9 45%
35125Toronto West2.73.01.41.71.61.81.41.41.41.6 49%
51001Ottawa Downtown2.01.41.51.31.41.51.50.90.90.8 50%
Table A18: 10y Trend for SO2
Annual Mean (ppb)
SO2 1y AAQC: 20 ppb
IDCity/Town2005200620072008200920102011201220132014Change Over Time
12008Windsor Downtown4.95.05.54.53.53.53.52.82.42.4 58%
12016Windsor West5.14.95.24.73.63.23.42.82.62.8 56%
14064Sarnia7.88.38.07.74.53.95.34.13.83.5 64%
29000Hamilton Downtown5.34.84.24.33.33.35.24.84.85.1 5%
29114Hamilton Mountainn/a3.33.53.03.02.94.13.72.82.9 5%
35125Toronto West2.32.01.51.41.20.91.50.60.60.7 75%
46108Mississauga2.6INSn/a1.61.11.01.30.60.71.3 71%
51001Ottawa Downtown1.51.10.91.00.90.20.40.30.30.3 94%
71078Sault Ste. Marie1.51.41.81.20.60.70.80.60.80.8 64%
77233Sudbury2.82.42.32.01.11.31.51.32.82.4 17%

Notes:

n/a indicates pollutant not monitored.
INS indicates there was insufficient data to calculate a valid annual mean.
Station 46108 replaced station 46109 as the Mississauga site in 2008.
Station 77233 replaced station 77219 as the Sudbury site in 2013.

Table A19: 2014 Air Quality Index Summary
City/TownNo. of Valid HoursPercentage of Valid Hours AQI in RangeNo. of Days At Least 1 Hour > 49
Very Good
0-15
Good
16-31
Moderate
32-49
Poor
50-99
Very Poor
100+
Windsor Downtown870927.262.310.40.103
Windsor West873723.563.612.70.205
Chatham875124.268.07.9<0.101
Sarnia872726.165.87.80.2<0.16
Grand Bend871120.170.89.00.103
London874924.466.39.20.103
Port Stanley874718.372.49.2<0.102
Tiverton864620.174.75.2<0.101
Brantford871521.767.810.40.103
Kitchener873525.366.08.50.307
St. Catharines872022.170.67.3<0.102
Guelph866324.766.68.40.307
Hamilton Downtown873924.863.611.40.205
Hamilton Mountain872320.768.910.40.103
Hamilton West874730.961.37.40.409
Toronto Downtown873933.360.16.40.102
Toronto East875737.356.16.60.103
Toronto North871529.962.87.10.206
Toronto West873944.049.46.40.206
Burlington873929.262.68.00.203
Oakville874628.465.16.40.102
Oshawa874229.365.45.3<0.101
Brampton874128.063.08.70.309
Mississauga872431.961.46.60.205
Barrie874032.463.24.3<0.101
Newmarket874826.566.76.70.105
Parry Sound874525.371.43.2000
Dorset874231.566.02.5000
Ottawa Downtown874538.658.72.7<0.101
Ottawa Central874732.264.23.6000
Petawawa874535.762.81.5000
Kingston874121.872.06.10.102
Belleville875124.669.85.6000
Morrisburg875527.869.03.1<0.101
Cornwall871428.967.93.2<0.101
Peterborough874125.969.24.9<0.101
Thunder Bay849636.062.61.4000
Sault Ste. Marie873930.166.93.0000
North Bay874835.062.82.2000
Sudbury875133.963.52.6<0.101
Table A20: Summary of Smog Advisories (2005 - 2014)
Air Quality Forecast Region2005200620072008200920102011201220132014
Adv.DaysAdv.DaysAdv.DaysAdv.DaysAdv.DaysAdv.DaysAdv.DaysAdv.DaysAdv.DaysAdv.Days
Algonquin516131300110000130000
Bancroft-Bon Echo7211341323241500251200
Barrie-Orillia-Midland1339511821372414117150000
Belleville-Quinte-Northumberland1342512924482428116131200
Brockville-Leeds and Grenville724253524241200241200
Burk’s Falls Bayfield Inlet824241300110000240000
City of Hamilton134551110316132428227181200
City of Ottawa725252411241200121200
City of Toronto144851111296132428118161200
Cornwall-Morrisburg725253524241200121200
Dufferin-Innisfil1344511927372415117150000
Dunnville-Caledonia-Haldimand134551112314112428116160000
Elgin1245413133761524210247180000
Elliot Lake-Ranger Lake412131300000000240000
Greater Sudbury and Vicinity720241300110000240000
Grey-Bruce1032410922122428116140000
Haliburton103041061712241400360000
Halton-Peel144851111316132428118171200
Huron-Perth124441112273724210117180000
Kingston-Prince Edward1032512923482428115111200
London-Middlesex124541212275112429117180000
Manitoulin-Northshore-Killarney618241300110000240000
Niagara134551110294112428116160000
North Bay-West Nipissing720241300110000240000
Oxford-Brant134651112314112428116160000
Parry Sound-Muskoka-Huntsville1030410821252414005100000
Peterborough-Kawartha Lakes1238410821362428006131200
Prescott and Russell725252411241200121200
Renfrew-Pembroke-Barry’s Bay517132500241200121200
Sarnia-Lambton1346412132941024210247180000
Sault Ste. Marie-Superior East410131300000000130000
Simcoe-Delhi-Norfolk1346511123141124210116160000
Smiths Falls-Lanark-Sharbot Lake619252411241200121200
Stirling-Tweed-South Frontenac8252551323242800361200
Waterloo-Wellington13455111129372428116150000
Windsor-Essex-Chatham-Kent1346414133851235210488240000
York-Durham14485111129592428118161200
ONTARIO15536171339817353125912301200

Note: A smog advisory day refers to a calendar day when a smog advisory is in effect.

Figure A1: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Windsor Downtown

Figure A1: Figure A1 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Windsor Downtown from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 49%.

Figure A2: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Windsor West

Figure A2: Figure A2 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Windsor West from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 60%.

Figure A3: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Sarnia

Figure A3: Figure A3 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Sarnia from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 23%.

Figure A4: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Grand Bend

Figure A4: Figure A4 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Grand Bend from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 3%.

Figure A5: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at London

Figure A5: Figure A5 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at London from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 24%.

Figure A6: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Tiverton

Figure A6: Figure A6 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Tiverton from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone decreased 1%.

Figure A7: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Kitchener

Figure A7: Figure A7 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Kitchener from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 19%.

Figure A8: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at St. Catharines

Figure A8: Figure A8 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at St. Catharines from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 52%.

Figure A9: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Guelph

Figure A9: Figure A9 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Guelph from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 21%.

Figure A10: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Hamilton Downtown

Figure A10: Figure A10 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Hamilton Downtown from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 58%.

Figure A11: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Hamilton Mountain

Figure A11: Figure A11 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Hamilton Mountain from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 42%.

Figure A12: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Hamilton West

Figure A12: Figure A12 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Hamilton West from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 40%.

Figure A13: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Toronto Downtown

Figure A13: Figure A13 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Toronto Downtown from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 47%.

Figure A14: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Toronto East

Figure A14: Figure A14 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Toronto East from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 27%.

Figure A15: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Toronto North

Figure A15: Figure A15 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Toronto North from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 27%.

Figure A16: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Burlington

Figure A16: Figure A16 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Burlington from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 18%.

Figure A17: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Oakville

Figure A17: Figure A17 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Oakville from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 39%.

Figure A18: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Oshawa

Figure A18: Figure A18 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Oshawa from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 26%.

Figure A19: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Mississauga

Figure A19: Figure A19 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Mississauga from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 30%.

Figure A20: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Dorset

Figure A20: Figure A20 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Dorset from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone decreased 10%.

Figure A21: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Ottawa Downtown

Figure A21: Figure A21 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Ottawa Downtown from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 29%.

Figure A22: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Cornwall

Figure A22: Figure A22 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Cornwall from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 19%.

Figure A23: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Peterborough

Figure A23: Figure A23 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Peterborough from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone decreased 1%.

Figure A24: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Thunder Bay

Figure A24: Figure A24 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Thunder Bay from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 16%.

Figure A25: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Sault Ste. Marie

Figure A25: Figure A25 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Sault Ste. Marie from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 28%.

Figure A26: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at North Bay

Figure A26: Figure A26 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at North Bay from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone increased 2%.

Figure A27: 20y Trend of Ozone Annual Mean at Sudbury

Figure A27: Figure A27 is a line chart displaying the ozone annual mean at Sudbury from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, ozone decreased 6%.

Figure A28: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Windsor Downtown

Figure A28: Figure A28 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Windsor Downtown from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 52%.

Figure A29: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Sarnia

Figure A29: Figure A29 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Sarnia from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 61%.

Figure A30: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at London

Figure A30: Figure A30 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at London from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 69%.

Figure A31: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Kitchener

Figure A31: Figure A31 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Kitchener from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 54%.

Figure A32: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at St. Catharines

Figure A32: Figure A32 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at St. Catharines from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 55%.

Figure A33: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Hamilton Downtown

Figure A33: Figure A33 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Hamilton Downtown from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 47%.

Figure A34: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Hamilton Mountain

Figure A34: Figure A34 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Hamilton Mountain from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 50%.

Figure A35: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Toronto Downtown

Figure A35: Figure A35 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Toronto Downtown from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 60%.

Figure A36: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Toronto East

Figure A36: Figure A36 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Toronto East from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 50%.

Figure A37: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Toronto North

Figure A37: Figure A37 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Toronto North from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 42%.

Figure A38: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Burlington

Figure A38: Figure A38 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Burlington from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 37%.

Figure A39: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Oakville

Figure A39: Figure A39 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Oakville from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 58%.

Figure A40: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Oshawa

Figure A40: Figure A40 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Oshawa from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 81%.

Figure A41: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Ottawa Downtown

Figure A41: Figure A41 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Ottawa Downtown from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 52%.

Figure A42: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Thunder Bay

Figure A42: Figure A42 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Thunder Bay from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 46%.

Figure A43: 20y Trend of NO2 Annual Mean at Sault Ste. Marie

Figure A43: Figure A43 is a line chart displaying the nitrogen dioxide annual mean at Sault Ste Marie from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, nitrogen dioxide decreased 67%.

Figure A44: 20y Trend of SO2 Annual Mean at Windsor Downtown

Figure A44: Figure A44 is a line chart displaying the sulphur dioxide annual mean at Windsor Downtown from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period sulphur dioxide decreased 66%.

Figure A45: 20y Trend of SO2 Annual Mean at Windsor West

Figure A45: Figure A45 is a line chart displaying the sulphur dioxide annual mean at Windsor West from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, sulphur dioxide decreased 82%.

Figure A46: 20y Trend of SO2 Annual Mean at Sarnia

Figure A46: Figure A46 is a line chart displaying the sulphur dioxide annual mean at Sarnia from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, sulphur dioxide decreased 58%.

Figure A47: 20y Trend of SO2 Annual Mean at Hamilton Downtown

Figure A47: Figure A47 is a line chart displaying the sulphur dioxide annual mean at Hamilton Downtown from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, sulphur dioxide decreased 40%.

Figure A48: 20y Trend of SO2 Annual Mean at Hamilton Mountain

Figure A48: Figure A48 is a line chart displaying the sulphur dioxide annual mean at Hamilton Mountain from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, sulphur dioxide decreased 53%.

Figure A49: 20y Trend of SO2 Annual Mean at Ottawa Downtown

Figure A49: Figure A49 is a line chart displaying the sulphur dioxide annual mean at Ottawa Downtown from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, sulphur dioxide decreased 107%.

Figure A50: 20y Trend of SO2 Annual Mean at Sault Ste. Marie

Figure A50: Figure A50 is a line chart displaying the sulphur dioxide annual mean at Sault Ste. Marie from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, sulphur dioxide decreased 70%.

Figure A51: 20y Trend of SO2 Annual Mean at Sudbury

Figure A51: Figure A51 is a line chart displaying the sulphur dioxide annual mean at Sudbury from 1995 to 2014. Over this 20-year period, sulphur dioxide decreased 66%.