Comparison with Other Locations

In Alberta, air quality is as good, if not better than other Canadian cities. Concentrations of urban air pollutants in Alberta cities are typically close to values observed at other Canadian cities of similar size and population. The most recent data available for Canada and the U.S. is from 2003. Comparing the 2003 concentrations for various pollutants with averages of the past few years helps to give some idea of how the air in Alberta cities compares to the air in other Canadian and American cities.

The average carbon monoxide concentration for the five-year period of 1998 to 2003 for Edmonton and Calgary was 0.6 ppm (parts per million). Ottawa and Toronto had concentrations of 0.9 ppm and 1.0 ppm, respectively. The Alberta cities were close to the values of Regina (0.6 ppm) and Vancouver (0.7 ppm). Edmonton and Calgary had carbon monoxide concentrations that were about mid-range for Canadian cities. In 2003 Edmonton and Calgary saw a decrease to 0.5 ppm.

Ambient nitrogen dioxide levels for the five-year period of 1998 to 2003 showed that Edmonton and Calgary had concentrations of 0.022 ppm and 0.023 ppm. Edmonton experienced no change in 2003, while Calgary increased to 0.024 ppm. These values were somewhat higher than most of the Canadian cities compared. Only Toronto and Hamilton had the same or higher concentration levels. The Alberta values were still substantially lower than those in L.A. County and New York City but higher than both Dallas and Seattle.

Average annual inhalable particulate matter (PM_2.5) concentrations (particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) for Edmonton and Calgary over the five years from 1998 to 2003 were 8.4 mg/m³ (micrograms per cubic metre) and 7.0 mg/m³. The 2003 concentrations for Edmonton were 7.7 mg/m³ and for Calgary 7.8 mg/m³. These concentrations were roughly the same as those of other Canadian cities. Average concentrations of inhalable particulate matter were higher in the American cities. Only Dallas had concentrations similar to the Canadian cities. The Canada-wide Standard for PM_2.5 concentrations is 30 mg/m³ averaged over 24-hours. Comparing the average number of days that the limit was exceeded over a five-year period (1998 to 2003) revealed that Edmonton and Calgary both experienced 2 or fewer days that exceeded the Canada-wide Standard. That was similar to most Canadian cities. In 2003 however, the data showed increases in both Edmonton and Calgary. The Canada-wide Standard was exceeded 4 days in Edmonton in 2003, while in Calgary the Canada-wide Standard was exceeded for 11 days. This increase was attributed in a large part to forest fire smoke. Inhalable particulate levels in Alberta are comparable to large Canadian cities because of the contribution of wind-blown dust and a dry climate.

The average sulphur dioxide (SO₂) concentrations in Edmonton and Calgary for 1998 to 2003 averaged 0.002 ppm and 0.003 ppm, respectively. Both cities experienced a small drop of 0.001 ppm in 2003 when compared to the five-year average. These values were lower than most Canadian cities. The American cities used in the comparison had similar values to Canadian cities of similar size, and in some cases had lower SO₂ concentrations.

Under hot, calm weather conditions, photochemical smog can be formed through a complicated set of chemical reactions involving oxides of nitrogen and volatile hydrocarbons in the presence of sunlight. Ground-level ozone is a component of major concern in photochemical smog. In Alberta, photochemical smog is typically a concern only one or two days a year. Photochemical smog is considered an air pollution problem in Canada in the Lower Fraser Valley, the Windsor-Quebec corridor and the southern Atlantic Provinces. Exceedances of the eight-hour Canada-wide Standard for ozone (65 ppb) averaged 2 days a year for Edmonton over the five-year period of 1998-2003, while Calgary averaged zero days a year over that same period. Edmonton did not see any days with exceedances of the Canada-wide Standard in 2003, while Calgary saw one.

The annual average benzene concentration levels for 1998 to 2003 for Edmonton and Calgary averaged 1.8 mg/m³ and 1.7 mg/m³. These values were similar to those of the other Canadian cities compared. Only Montreal really stood out as being significantly different from the rest of the cities, with a 5-year annual average concentration double that of any other Canadian city. The 2003 annual averages showed that Edmonton and Calgary both decreased about 0.1 mg/m³ in their benzene concentrations.

The Alberta Objective for hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) for a 1-hour average concentration is 0.010 ppm and for a 24-hour average concentration is 0.003 ppm. The average annual exceedances of H₂S concentrations for the five-year period of 1998 to 2003 showed that the Calgary East station had the highest number of 1-hour exceedances with 20. It also tied with the Mannix station for the most 24-hour exceedances (4). The Edmonton East and Calgary East stations saw the largest increase in the number of 1-hour exceedance in 2003.

Four-year lead PM_2.5 averages were calculated for the period of 2000 to 2004. These averages showed that both Edmonton and Calgary had lead concentrations of 0.0003 mg/m³. Most of the Canadian cities used in the comparison had similar values to these. Montreal had a higher value, and Hamilton had a significantly higher lead concentration than any other Canadian city with 0.0067 mg/m³.

The benzo(a)pyrene annual mean concentration for the five-year period of 1998 to 2003 for Edmonton was 0.091 ng/m³ (nanograms per cubic metre). This was lower than most Canadian cities. Montreal had significantly higher concentrations than any other Canada city that was compared. In 2003 Edmonton's benzo(a)pyrene concentration remained virtually unchanged compared to the previous five-year average. Windsor, Toronto and Winnipeg all saw small increases in their concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene. Montreal's benzo(a)pyrene concentration decreased by over half to 0.333 ng/m³.

	Comparison with Other Locations In Alberta, air quality is as good, if not better than other Canadian cities. Concentrations of urban air pollutants in Alberta cities are typically close to values observed at other Canadian cities of similar size and population. The most recent data available for Canada and the U.S. is from 2003. Comparing the 2003 concentrations for various pollutants with averages of the past few years helps to give some idea of how the air in Alberta cities compares to the air in other Canadian and American cities. The average carbon monoxide concentration for the five-year period of 1998 to 2003 for Edmonton and Calgary was 0.6 ppm (parts per million). Ottawa and Toronto had concentrations of 0.9 ppm and 1.0 ppm, respectively. The Alberta cities were close to the values of Regina (0.6 ppm) and Vancouver (0.7 ppm). Edmonton and Calgary had carbon monoxide concentrations that were about mid-range for Canadian cities. In 2003 Edmonton and Calgary saw a decrease to 0.5 ppm. Ambient nitrogen dioxide levels for the five-year period of 1998 to 2003 showed that Edmonton and Calgary had concentrations of 0.022 ppm and 0.023 ppm. Edmonton experienced no change in 2003, while Calgary increased to 0.024 ppm. These values were somewhat higher than most of the Canadian cities compared. Only Toronto and Hamilton had the same or higher concentration levels. The Alberta values were still substantially lower than those in L.A. County and New York City but higher than both Dallas and Seattle. Average annual inhalable particulate matter (PM_2.5) concentrations (particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) for Edmonton and Calgary over the five years from 1998 to 2003 were 8.4 mg/m³ (micrograms per cubic metre) and 7.0 mg/m³. The 2003 concentrations for Edmonton were 7.7 mg/m³ and for Calgary 7.8 mg/m³. These concentrations were roughly the same as those of other Canadian cities. Average concentrations of inhalable particulate matter were higher in the American cities. Only Dallas had concentrations similar to the Canadian cities. The Canada-wide Standard for PM_2.5 concentrations is 30 mg/m³ averaged over 24-hours. Comparing the average number of days that the limit was exceeded over a five-year period (1998 to 2003) revealed that Edmonton and Calgary both experienced 2 or fewer days that exceeded the Canada-wide Standard. That was similar to most Canadian cities. In 2003 however, the data showed increases in both Edmonton and Calgary. The Canada-wide Standard was exceeded 4 days in Edmonton in 2003, while in Calgary the Canada-wide Standard was exceeded for 11 days. This increase was attributed in a large part to forest fire smoke. Inhalable particulate levels in Alberta are comparable to large Canadian cities because of the contribution of wind-blown dust and a dry climate. The average sulphur dioxide (SO₂) concentrations in Edmonton and Calgary for 1998 to 2003 averaged 0.002 ppm and 0.003 ppm, respectively. Both cities experienced a small drop of 0.001 ppm in 2003 when compared to the five-year average. These values were lower than most Canadian cities. The American cities used in the comparison had similar values to Canadian cities of similar size, and in some cases had lower SO₂ concentrations. Under hot, calm weather conditions, photochemical smog can be formed through a complicated set of chemical reactions involving oxides of nitrogen and volatile hydrocarbons in the presence of sunlight. Ground-level ozone is a component of major concern in photochemical smog. In Alberta, photochemical smog is typically a concern only one or two days a year. Photochemical smog is considered an air pollution problem in Canada in the Lower Fraser Valley, the Windsor-Quebec corridor and the southern Atlantic Provinces. Exceedances of the eight-hour Canada-wide Standard for ozone (65 ppb) averaged 2 days a year for Edmonton over the five-year period of 1998-2003, while Calgary averaged zero days a year over that same period. Edmonton did not see any days with exceedances of the Canada-wide Standard in 2003, while Calgary saw one. The annual average benzene concentration levels for 1998 to 2003 for Edmonton and Calgary averaged 1.8 mg/m³ and 1.7 mg/m³. These values were similar to those of the other Canadian cities compared. Only Montreal really stood out as being significantly different from the rest of the cities, with a 5-year annual average concentration double that of any other Canadian city. The 2003 annual averages showed that Edmonton and Calgary both decreased about 0.1 mg/m³ in their benzene concentrations. The Alberta Objective for hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) for a 1-hour average concentration is 0.010 ppm and for a 24-hour average concentration is 0.003 ppm. The average annual exceedances of H₂S concentrations for the five-year period of 1998 to 2003 showed that the Calgary East station had the highest number of 1-hour exceedances with 20. It also tied with the Mannix station for the most 24-hour exceedances (4). The Edmonton East and Calgary East stations saw the largest increase in the number of 1-hour exceedance in 2003. Four-year lead PM_2.5 averages were calculated for the period of 2000 to 2004. These averages showed that both Edmonton and Calgary had lead concentrations of 0.0003 mg/m³. Most of the Canadian cities used in the comparison had similar values to these. Montreal had a higher value, and Hamilton had a significantly higher lead concentration than any other Canadian city with 0.0067 mg/m³. The benzo(a)pyrene annual mean concentration for the five-year period of 1998 to 2003 for Edmonton was 0.091 ng/m³ (nanograms per cubic metre). This was lower than most Canadian cities. Montreal had significantly higher concentrations than any other Canada city that was compared. In 2003 Edmonton's benzo(a)pyrene concentration remained virtually unchanged compared to the previous five-year average. Windsor, Toronto and Winnipeg all saw small increases in their concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene. Montreal's benzo(a)pyrene concentration decreased by over half to 0.333 ng/m³.