Air Quality Research and Scientific Applications

Environment Canada has one of the largest groups of atmospheric and emissions research and measurement specialists in Canada.  These internationally-recognized experts make significant contributions to the understanding of a variety of air pollution problems, in Canada and abroad.

Environment Canada’s air quality research and applications support federal policies and regulatory initiatives by:

• Characterizing the air that Canadians breathe;
• Monitoring changing air quality and deposition in urban and rural areas across Canada;
• Quantifying/assessing the significance of emission sources from the energy, transportation and industrial sectors;
• Providing scientific and technical knowledge, data and tools to enable decision-makers to better assess and manage the risks posed by chemical substances to human health and the environment (e.g., through the Chemicals Management Plan);
• Developing analytical and regulatory tools such as reference methods, codes of practice, and guidelines to better measure and manage the use, release or disposal of chemical substances;
• Developing and conducting programs to test and audit compliance against government regulations;
• Determining domestic and international contributions to Canadian air pollution; and
• Developing and applying models that support emission reduction strategies and air quality forecasts.