Introduction
Alberta's Ambient Air Quality Objectives are intended to provide protection of the environment and human health to an extent technically and economically feasible, as well as socially and politically acceptable.
Use of objectives
The objectives are used to:
- assess compliance near major industrial air emission sources
- establish approval conditions for regulated industrial facilities
- evaluate proposals for constructing facilities
- guide special ambient air quality surveys
- inform Albertans on air quality through an air quality index
- report on the state of Alberta's atmospheric environment
Alberta Environment and Parks ensures that emissions from human activities will be minimized and that air quality continues to be better than the Ambient Air Quality Objectives.
Factors objectives are based on
These objectives are based on scientific, social, technical and economic factors including:
- Monitoring – Can the substance be routinely monitored in the atmosphere?
- Natural levels and fluctuations – Do substances fluctuate as they enter the atmosphere from natural but uncontrollable sources (for example, forest fires)?
- Sensitive receptors – Is one component of the environment or one stage in an organism's development more sensitive than another?
- Substance behaviour in the atmosphere – What reactions do a substance undergo and how long is the substance in the air?
- Substance behaviour in the environment – Can the substance bioaccumulate or biodegrade after entering the environment?
- Technological availability – What is the cost and availability of technology to control or avoid emissions?
Consultation
The department has been reviewing ambient air quality objectives by multi-stakeholder consultation since 2000. Alberta now has air quality objectives for more than 30 substances that could be released to the atmosphere.
Mailing list
The department has an automatic emailing system that will distribute information on ambient air quality objectives to those who subscribe to the list. Subscription to this list is open to all department staff, industry, NGOs and consultants, as well as members of the general public.
Check that your email address is correct before you subscribe. If you do not receive a confirmation email after you have subscribed your subscription was not successful.
The personal information collected through the Ambient Air Quality Objectives webpage may be used for the purpose of providing you with an Ambient Air Quality Objectives Mailing List subscription to receive provincial air quality policy and modelling updates.
This personal information collection is authorized under Section 8 (1) (2) of the Government Organization Act, and is being managed in accordance with Section 33 (c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
If you have any questions about this collection of personal information, you may contact the Senior Ambient Standards Specialist at 780-427-4979 or by email at: [email protected]
Industrial air management
The following document provides guidance for the implementation of Ambient Air Quality Objectives and their use in air dispersion modelling and ambient air monitoring:
This document is currently under revision and an updated version will be posted after revisions are complete.
Supporting documents
The AAQO documents provide a short description of the substance, the effects and the objective levels. The supporting documents are detailed reports providing scientific and technical information on the substances.
2-Ethylhexanol
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: 2-Ethylhexanol
Acetone
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Acetone
Acrolein
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Acrolein
Acrylic Acid
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Acrylic Acid
Acrylonitrile
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Acrylonitrile
Ammonia
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Ammonia
- Assessment Report on Ammonia - Volume I
- Assessment Report on Ammonia - Volume II: Vegetation Effects
Arsenic
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Arsenic
Benzene
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Benzene
Benzo(a)pyrene
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Benzo(a)pyrene
Carbon Disulphide
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Carbon Disulphide
Cumene
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Cumene
Ethylbenzene
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Ethylbenzene
Ethylene
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Ethylene
Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Formaldehyde
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Formaldehyde
Hexane
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Hexane
Hydrogen Fluoride
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Hydrogen Fluoride
Isopropanol
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Isopropanol
Manganese
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Manganese
Naphthalene
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Naphthalene
- Assessment Report on Naphthalene - 2013 Update
- Review of Approaches for Setting an Objective for Mixtures in Ambient Air Using PAHs - 2004
Naphthalene
Nickel
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Nickel
Nitrogen Dioxide
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Nitrogen Dioxide
Ozone
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Ozone
Pentachlorophenol
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Pentachlorophenol
Propylene Oxide
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Propylene Oxide
Sulphur Dioxide
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Sulphur Dioxide
Toluene
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Toluene
Xylenes
Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives: Xylenes
Contact
Connect with us if you have questions or feedback on the ambient air quality objectives:
Email: [email protected]
Was this page helpful?
You will not receive a reply. Do not enter any personal information such as telephone numbers, addresses, or emails.
Your submissions are monitored by our web team and are used to help improve the experience on Alberta.ca. If you require a response, please go to our Contact page.