Development and/or evaluation of emission factors for Odour, air pollutants, greenhouse gas emissions and air quality impact assessment for industrial and municipal sources in cold region

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Air emissions from industrial and municipal sources are the main public concerns and causes odour and air quality complaints, affecting neighboring residents' quality of life and hindering further development of these sources; yet very limited research has been conducted to study odour and air pollutant emissions impact. Oil refineries are important to Canada yet have always been a target of air quality complaints; municipal wastewater treatment plants (WTPs) located in urban areas cause odour complaints. Odour study for these sources is rather recent; odour is perceived as nuisance and its impact on human health is overlooked and it is mostly not regulated. These sources are also important greenhouse gas (GHG) emission sources. Accurate estimation of GHG emission is important because a) carbon tax has been implemented in Canada, and b) Canada has set 30% GHG reduction by 2030, and 80% by 2050 compared to 2005. As all air emission measurement methods are similar, it will be efficient to include all three in this study. Although USEPA AP 42 and IPCC have emission factors for air pollutants and GHGs based on very limited data, they state that they are open to change based on new studies. Hence, research is needed to improve the accuracy of these emission factors, especially in cold region of Canada. ******The long term goal of this research program is to quantify air emissions from major municipal and industrial sources in Canadian Prairies, assess their impact on surrounding areas regarding odour and air quality, and set odour criteria and determine science-based setbacks for various landuses to ensure acceptable air quality. For the next 5 years (short term), the research focus will be on oil refineries and WTPs. Air emissions will be measured from all sources on sites. Basic odour properties will be studies. Odour and air pollutants plumes in the vicinity of the sources will be measured. Air dispersion model(s) then will be validated using field data and air quality monitoring station data; the model(s) will be used to predict long term odour and air pollutant impact on nearby areas. Odour impact criteria for various landuses will be recommended. Then a setback model to ensure both odour and air quality using validated dispersion model and impact criteria will be developed.******Upon completion of the project, odour, air pollutants, and GHG emission factors, dispersion models, and setback distance models will be available for use by oil refinery and WTPs industries and governments. It will provide a systematic odour and air emission impact assessment system for managing air emission impact and accurately projecting air pollutants and GHG emissions. Using the validated dispersion models and the impact criteria, governments and industries can verify air quality and odour complaints and siting for new facility or expansion of existing ones.