This page has been archived on the Web

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.

Skip booklet index and go to page content

Pollutants In My Environment - An Introduction to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI)

Glossary

CAS
Chemical Abstract Service, a unique registry number for a substance, allowing its identification in spite of its many aliases.

Carcinogenic
A substance is considered to be carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer: capable of increasing the incidence of malignant neoplasm or tumour.

SIC Code
Standard Industrial Classification ; numerical identifiers for different types of businesses and industries.

Criteria
CEPA requires any facility located in Canada to produce a report if it meets the following criteria:
  • employees worked a total of 20 000 hours or more during the year (equivalent to 10 full-time employees) ;
  • the facility manufactured, processed or otherwise used 10 tonnes or more of a NPRI substance during the year, and its concentration was greater than 1% (except for by-products).

Lower reporting thresholds have been established for some substances, such as micro-pollutants, beginning in the year 2000.

Disposal
There are eight major disposal methods:
  • physical, chemical or biological treatment ;
  • incineration or thermal treatment;
  • containment;
  • municipal sewage treatment plant (MSTP);
  • underground injection
  • land treatment

CEPA
Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

Recycling
For the NPRI, a substance may be recycled by the following methods:
  • recovery of energy, solvents, organic substances, metals and metal compounds, inorganic materials, acids or bases, catalysts, and of pollution abatment residues;
  • refining or reuse of used oil

Toxic
In accordance to the CEPA, a substance will be considered as toxic if its presence may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment and/or health.
Date modified: