Canada's refineries pollute a lot more than American refineries

[Anonymous]

I was really surprised by these findings..



When extracting oil and gas, Canada is a world leader in safety and environmental protection..



It's time to be a leader in refining and upgrading too.



Canada's tiny fleet of 15 refineries emitted 62 per cent more sulphur dioxide (SO2) than 127 U.S. plants combined in 2014. Fourteen out of 15 refineries in Canada would have to cut their sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions by at least half to meet the average level of emissions in the U.S., the data shows. Of those, nine of them would need a reduction of 90 per cent or more to reach the U.S. average. Exposure to SO2 can harm the respiratory system and make breathing difficult, especially for those with asthma.

11 of the 15 Canadian refineries would need to cut nitrogen oxides emissions by at least half to reach the U.S. average.

9 of the 15 would need at least a 50 per cent reduction in carbon monoxide emissions to reach the U.S. average.



Canada's oil industry is also well aware of the divide between its emissions and those of its southern neighbours, said Environment Canada spokesperson Mark Johnson in written responses to questions.



"Industry...have acknowledged the need to address the gap and have expressed a willingness to work together to ensure that measures that are developed are appropriate to address the risks to Canadians," he said.



Industry officials did not challenge the investigation's data analysis, saying emissions in Canada have fallen between 40 to 50 per cent since 2002.



Peter Boag, president and CEO of the Canadian Fuels Association, which represents the country's refining industry, said all of his members are "in full compliance with their annual emission caps established by the relevant regulatory authority."



Many key pollutants from Canadian refineries have been reduced 40 to 50 per cent since 2002, he said.



Boag acknowledged that, relative to U.S. refinery emissions, Canada's plants "haven't done so well."



"U.S. refineries have certainly reduced their emissions at a pace ... greater than what's happened in Canada," said Boag.

https://globalnews.ca/news/4176459/pollution-from-canadian-refineries-an-embarrassment-compared-to-u-s/">https://globalnews.ca/news/4176459/poll ... ed-to-u-s/">https://globalnews.ca/news/4176459/pollution-from-canadian-refineries-an-embarrassment-compared-to-u-s/

[Anonymous]

I read this last night. I didn't know we don't have uniform national standards for toxic emissions like the US does. But, nowhere in there does it say sulphur dioxide, benzene or carbon monoxide emissions from our refineries pose a danger to the environment or human health.