Main Index Help Contact Us

Text Size


	B.C. Home

Air Quality
- Communities Exposed to Health Risks
- Health Risks from Fine Particulates
- Ground Level Ozone in B.C.
Health and Environment
- Mercury Concentration
- Pesticide Use
- UV Index
Surface Water Quality
- Surface Water Quality in B.C.
- Stream Crossing Density
- Water Quality Index
Ground Water
- Observation Wells Showing Declining Water Levels
- Heavily Used Aquifers
- Aquifers Vulnerable to Contamination
Surface Water Use
- Licensed Streams with Water Allocation Restrictions
- Stream Allocation Restrictions in B.C.
- Per Capita Municipal Water Use
- Effect of Metering on Domestic Water Use
- Volume of Water Licensed for Bottling
Toxic Contaminants
- On-Site Toxic Substances Releases
- On-Site Toxic Substances Releases in Canada
- Toxic Substance Release Sites in B.C.
- Absorbable Organic Halide (AOX) Discharge in Pulp and Paper Effluent
Chemicals in Wildlife
- Contaminants in Great Blue Heron Eggs
- PCBs and Dioxins and Furans in Harbour Seals
- Dioxins and Furans in Dungeness Crabs Near Pulp Mills
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions in B.C.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990 - 1999
- Vehicle Sales in B.C.
Climate Change
- Change in Air Temperature
- Fraser River Annual Flow
- Fraser River Temperature
Mitigation of Impact
- B.C. Wastewater Treatment
- Canadian Wastewater Treatment
- Liquid Manure Storage Capacity in Lower Fraser Valley
- Shellfish Closures
- Mine Sites Requiring Mitigation
- Municipal Waste and Recycling
- Industry Product Stewardship Programs
Economy
- Energy Consumption
- Certified Organic Producers
- GDP Generated by Provincial Parks
- Environment Industry Employment
Protected Areas
- Protected Area Status
- Protected Ecosystems
- Protected Areas by Size
- Protected Areas Across Canada
- Protected Forests
Species at Risk
- Threatened or Endangered Species
- Threatened or Endangered Species by Ecoprovince
- Threats to Species at Risk
- Across Canada Comparison
Habitat
- Road Density
- Lost Habitat Types
- Species at Risk and Habitat Dependency
- Protected Areas Across Canada
- Large Areas of Habitat
- Protected Estuaries
Fish
- Steelhead Stocks
- Sturgeon in Fraser, Columbia and Nechako Rivers
- Bull Trout Trends by Watershed
Wildlife
- Species Range
- Status of Caribou
- Status of Columbia Sharp-Tailed Grouse
- Status of Grizzly Bear

Government
Quick access to information based on government's structure B.C. Government Ministries and Organizations Other Levels of Government

Environmental Trends 2002

Toxic Contaminants

Where are Toxic Substances Released?

Toxic Substance Release Sites in British Columbia (total for 2000 - 122,078 tonnes)

on site toxic substances releases in british columbia

SOURCE: Environment Canada 2001. The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) 2000. NOTES: In 1996, NPRI included by-products resulting in more pollutants being included in the inventory than previous years. In 1998, changes in reporting techniques for electrical utilities increased reported releases from previous years.

Where are toxic substances released?

The majority of 2000 releases (82%) were injected underground, 9% into air, 9% to water and less than 1% was released on land.
Prior to 1999, reported releases underground were negligible; the substantial increase is due to the addition of hydrogen sulphide, a by-product of natural gas extraction, to the NPRI inventory.
Underground injection is a waste disposal method subject to the provincial Petroleum and Natural Gas Act.
Since 1993, releases to water have decreased by 56% from 24,440 tonnes to 10,690 tonnes and emissions to the air have increased by 48% from 7,220 tonnes to 10,640 tonnes. Releases to the land have increased 83% from 400 tonnes to 730 tonnes.

For detailed information, including graph data, see In-Depth report [pdf].

Next: Absorbable Organic Halide (AOX) Discharge in Pulp and Paper Effluent >>