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Benzene Canada-Wide Standard
PHASE 1
GOVERNMENT of ONTARIO
Progress Report - 2002

Reductions in Benzene Emissions

NATIONAL GOAL: a 30% overall reduction in benzene emissions in 2000 from 1995 levels.

Reduction in Benzene Emissions by Sector

Chemical Manufacturing

The chemical sector in Ontario has been participating in a number of programs to reduce air emissions, including leak detection and repair to reduce VOC emissions, that contribute to summer smog. Benzene emissions¹ from chemical manufacturing plants in Ontario decreased from 319 tonnes in 1995 to 55 tonnes in 1999. This is a decrease of 83%.

Petroleum - Refineries and Distribution

Ontario refinery benzene emissions¹ decreased from 194 tonnes in 1995 to 119 tonnes in 1999, a 39% decrease.

Steel Manufacturing

Benzene emissions¹ from the four steel mills in Ontario were 720 tonnes in 1999. This is a decrease of 20% from the estimated 1200 tonnes of emissions in 1995.

⁽¹ Calculated from National Pollutant Release Inventory data as well as reports provided by the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute)

Transportation - Gasoline and Vehicles

The Drive Clean program requires that all the emissions of cars in Ontario from Windsor to Ottawa be tested every second year and on resale. Maintaining car emission controls through Drive Clean reduces the emissions of unburned gasoline. It is estimated that this program has reduced benzene emissions by about 8 tonnes over a period of almost two years (1999 to 2000). Ontario also regulates Stage 1 vapor recovery in the southern part of the Province. It is estimated that this program has reduced benzene emissions by 7 tonnes between 1995 (11 tonnes per year) and 1999 (4 tonnes per year) or 73%. Overall programs directed by Ontario towards this sector have reduced emissions of benzene by about 11 tonnes per year, a reduction of 0.1%.

Ambient Levels of Benzene

Ambient benzene decreased by approximately 50% between 1992 and 2000 (as shown in the following figure).

Ontario’s Drive Clean program, Stage 1 vapour recovery controls and volatility regulations will further contribute to benzene reductions. In addition Ontario will be working with other sectors under the Clean Air Plan for Industry to address emissions from other sectors such as solvent use.

This figure represents data from Ontario monitoring sites that are part of Environment Canada’s “National Air Pollution Surveillance Monitoring Network” and is provided courtesy of Environment Canada. The data shows the distribution of composite annual mean benzene concentrations (in micrograms per cubic metre) for eight Ontario locations from 1993 to 2000. These data were originally published in the 2000 Air Quality in Ontario report. The national distribution of annual mean benzene concentrations can be found in the Benzene Canada Wide Standard, Phase 1, National Summary Annual Progress Report – December 2001 [PDF] posted on the National CCME web site.

For further information, please contact:

Shelly Bonte-Gelok
Canada-wide Standards Advisor
Technology Standards Section
Standards Development Branch
Ontario Ministry of the Environment
40 St. Clair Ave. West, 7th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1M2
Tel: (416) 212-4295

Email address: bontegsh@ene.gov.on.ca

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