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AIR
POLLUTION:
Nitrogen oxides
Nitrogen
oxide emissions
result from the
combustion of
fossil fuels,
contributing
to both smog
and acid precipitation.
Again,  nitrogen
oxides are hazardous
to human health
and the environment.
Acid rain harms
aquatic ecosystems
(rivers, lakes
and wetlands)
as well as forests
and crops.
Nitrogen
oxides are a
component of
smog and ground
level ozone primarily
produced by the
combustion of
fossil fuels
– mainly
by vehicles,
electricity generation
and industrial
processes.
The
health impacts
of exposure to
smog include
impaired lung
function in the
short term as
well as accelerated
deterioration
in lung function
over the long
term. Children
and individuals
with respiratory
problems are
at greater risk.
Canada’s
OECD Ranking
Canada ranks
a dismal 25th
out of 28 OECD
nations in both
nitrogen dioxide
emissions per
capita and total
nitrogen dioxide
emissions. Canada
produces 67.1
kg of nitrogen
dioxide per capita,
almost 40% higher
than the OECD
average of 40.6
kg of nitrogen
dioxide per capita.
Only
Australians,
Icelanders and
Americans produce
higher per capita
emissions of
nitrogen dioxide
than Canadians.
Only the United
States, Australia
and the United
Kingdom produce
higher total
emissions of
nitrogen dioxide.
Efficiency
Canada produces
3.4 kilograms
of nitrogen dioxide
emissions per
$1000 US of GDP,
roughly 42% higher
than the OECD
average of 2.4
kilograms of
nitrogen dioxide
emissions per
$1000 US of GDP.
The only countries
with a worse
record than Canada
are Iceland,
Poland, Australia
and the Czech
Republic. In
other words,
Canada’s
economy is much
more pollution
intensive and,
consequently,
less efficient
than the majority
of our industrialized
competitors.
The
Trend
There is modestly
good news here,
in that Canada’s
performance is
improving. Since
1980, Canada’s
emissions of
nitrogen dioxide
have decreased
by 1.6%. However,
eleven of the
twenty other
OECD nations
for whom trend
data are available
achieved larger
reductions in
nitrogen dioxide
emissions during
this period than
Canada.
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