Toxic air pollutants

Many pollutants that contribute, or may contribute, to air quality issues have been formally assessed and determined to be toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) and are listed in Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999 Schedule 1.

For more information about CEPA 1999, visit the Canadian Environmental Protection Act Registry, and for risk management information on some pollutants that contribute or may contribute to air quality issues visit the Management of Toxic Substances Website.

Air related toxics listed within CEPA 1999 schedule 1, include:

  • Chlorobiphenyls that have the molecular formula C12H(10-n) Cln in which "n" is greater than 2
  • Dodecachloropentacyclo [5.3.0.02,6.03,9.04,8] decane (Mirex)
  • Chlorofluorocarbon: totally halogenated chlorofluorocarbons that have the molecular formula CnC1xF(2n+2-x)
  • Asbestos
  • Lead
  • Mercury
  • Vinyl Chloride
  • Bromochlorodifluoromethane that has the molecular formula CF2BrCl
  • Bromotrifluoromethane that has the molecular formula CF3 Br
  • Dibromotetrafluoroethane that has the molecular formula C2F4Br2
  • Fuel containing toxic substances that are dangerous goods within the meaning of section 2 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992 and that are neither normal components of the fuel nor additives designed to improve the characteristics or the performance of the fuel; or are normal components of the fuel or additives designed to improve the characteristics or performance of the fuels, but are present in quantities or concentrations greater than those generally accepted by industry standards
  • Dibenzo-para-dioxin that has the molecular formula of C12H8O2
  • Dibenzofuran that has the molecular formula C12H8O
  • Polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins that have the molecular formula C12H(8-n)O2Cln in which "n" is greater than 2
  • Polychlorinated dibenzofurans that have the molecular formula C12H(8-n)OCln in which "n" is greater than 2
  • Tetrachloromethane (carbon tetrachloride) CCl4
  • 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methyl chloroform) CCl3-CH3
  • Bromofluorocarbons other than those set out in items 10 to 12
  • Hydrobromofluorocarbons that have the molecular formula CnHxFyBr(2n+2-x-y) in which 0<n<3
  • Methyl Bromide
  • Bis(Chloromethyl) ether that has the molecular formula C2H4Cl2O
  • Chloromethyl methyl ether that has the molecular formula C2H5ClO
  • Hydrochlorofluorocarbons that have the molecular formula CnHxFyCl(2n+2-x-y) in which 0<n<3
  • Benzene that has the molecular formula C6H6
  • Inorganic arsenic compounds
  • Inorganic cadmium compounds
  • Hexavalent chromium compounds
  • 1,2-Dichloroethane
  • Dichloromethane
  • Hexachlorobenzene
  • Inorganic fluorides
  • Oxidic, sulphidic and soluble inorganic nickel compounds
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  • Tetrachloroethylene
  • Trichloroethylene
  • Bromochloromethane, that has the molecular formula CH2 BrCl
  • Acetaldehyde, which has the molecular formula C2H4O
  • 1,3-Butadiene, which has the molecular formula C4H6
  • Acrylonitrile, which has the molecular formula C3H3N
  • Respirable particulate matter less than or equal to 10 microns
  • Acrolein, which has the molecular formula C3H4O
  • Ethylene oxide, which has the molecular formula H2COCH2
  • Formaldehyde, which has the molecular formula CH2O
  • N-Nitrosodimethylamine, which has the molecular formula C2H6N2O
  • Gaseous Ammonia, which has the molecular formula NH3(g)
  • Ozone, which has the molecular formula O3
  • Nitric oxide, which has the molecular formula NO
  • Nitrogen dioxide, which has the molecular formula NO2
  • Sulphur dioxide, which has the molecular formula SO2
  • Volatile organic compounds that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions,
  • Hexachlorobutadiene, which has the molecular formula C4Cl6
  • Particulate matter containing metals that is released in emissions from copper smelters or refineries, or from both
  • Particulate matter containing metals that is released in emissions from zinc plants

Page details

Date modified: