Air indicators – Fine particulate matter

About the indicator

Fine particulate matter, or PM_2.5, is an air pollutant that can be harmful to human health. PM_2.5 consists of very small particles 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter. Exposure to these small particles can cause serious health problems including lung and heart disease.

This indicator reports on the concentration of PM_2.5 from 2000 to 2022 and  provides information on the variation across Alberta and how concentrations have changed over time. This indicator also compares PM_2.5 concentrations with Alberta's Ambient Air Quality Objectives (AAAQOs), which set thresholds for air pollutants to protect human and ecosystem health.

Fine particulate matter facts

• PM_2.5 is emitted into the atmosphere from human activities and natural sources such as wildfire smoke. Some PM_2.5 is emitted directly into the atmosphere, for example through dust or smoke. PM_2.5 also forms through chemical reactions in the atmosphere involving other gases, such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and volatile organic compounds.
• Human caused sources of PM_2.5 include burning of fossil fuels for vehicles, home heating, power plants, and industrial processes. Other sources include home wood burning, brush pile burning, road dust, and construction operations, among others.
• In Alberta, the highest concentrations of PM_2.5 are typically caused by wildfire smoke and winter smog. Smog is a mixture of gases and particles emitted into the air by human activities. Smog negatively affects human health and forms haze that reduces visibility.
• PM_2.5 is part of the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) that reports on health risks associated with local air quality across Alberta in real-time.

Methods

For information on how the results in this indicator were calculated and for references, see Condition of the Environment Report – Air Component

Summary of key results

Last updated: August 2024

• Over the last 20 years, changes in PM_2.5 monitoring equipment mean that statistical testing for trends over time is not possible (for additional information see the ‘data limitations’ section).
• The highest concentrations of PM_2.5 in Alberta are caused by wildfire smoke and can reach concentrations that exceed the Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objective, which is based on the protection of human health. 
  • The location and severity of smoke varies year-to-year depending primarily on wildfire activity and intensity. For more information on wildfire smoke impacts on air quality in Alberta, see: Wildfire Smoke Air indicator.
• Human activities also significantly contribute to PM_2.5 concentrations, primarily during winter smog episodes. 

Variation across Alberta

• Annual average and peak concentrations of PM_2.5 vary across Alberta (Figures 1a and 1b, respectively) and are driven primarily by wildfire smoke and winter smog.
  • PM_2.5 concentrations are highest in large population centres and near industrial emissions sources. Stations located outside of these areas (for example in regional locations and smaller communities) have lower PM_2.5 concentrations.
  • PM_2.5 concentrations are also highest in areas affected by wildfire smoke.
• Wildfire smoke affects different parts of the province each year. The location of wildfires and the wind patterns that transport smoke determine which regions are affected. For more information on how wildfire smoke affects air quality in Alberta, see: Wildfire Smoke – Air indicators.
  • In 2022, wildfire smoke from fires burning in northern Alberta throughout the month of July primarily affected stations in northern Alberta. Much of the province was affected by smoke throughout August due to wildfires in British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and northern Alberta, and from September to early October due to wildfires in British Columbia and the northwestern United States.

Figure 1a. Annual average PM_2.5 concentrations across Alberta for 2022

Figure 1b. Peak PM_2.5 concentrations across Alberta for 2022

Changes over time

• The difference in PM_2.5 concentrations between years is largely driven by the extent of wildfire smoke and the frequency and severity of winter smog episodes (Figures 2a and 2b).
  • The highest peak and annual average PM_2.5 concentrations between 2000 and 2022 occurred in 2016 due to the Horse River wildfire near Fort McMurray. 
  • Annual average and peak PM_2.5 concentrations were low in 2020, when there was reduced wildfire activity in Alberta and limited impact from wildfires in surrounding jurisdictions. Actions taken in response to COVID-19 may have also affected PM_2.5 due to reductions in emissions of air pollutants from sources such as vehicle traffic.
• Trends over time for PM_2.5 cannot be tested statistically because of changes in monitoring equipment (see limitations section below).

​Seasonal variation

• Higher concentrations of PM_2.5 occur during periods affected by wildfire smoke (Figure 3).
• Elevated concentrations also occur from November to March during winter smog episodes caused by human activities. Winter smog has a smaller effect on PM_2.5 concentrations compared to wildfire smoke, which is why smog contributions are not as apparent in Figure 3 as those from wildfires.
  • Winter smog typically occurs during temperature inversions, when cold air along with pollutants are trapped at ground level preventing mixing and dispersion of pollutants.
• PM_2.5 concentrations can also be elevated at other times of year due to summer smog episodes, high wind dust events and other local causes (for example, construction).

Figure 3. Seasonal variation in monthly average PM_2.5 for 2019 to 2022, shown using bar plots of the median monthly value across all long-term air monitoring stations. Whiskers extend from the top of the bar to the maximum monthly value across all stations. Major wildfire episodes are indicated for each year.

• Alberta's Ambient Air Quality Objectives provide thresholds for over 30 airborne compounds to protect human and ecosystem health. The AAAQOs are used in the design of industrial facilities and to establish emissions requirements. The Alberta Government tracks AAAQO exceedances and assesses the need for management action.
• Exceedances of the 24-hour AAAQO for PM_2.5 are mainly caused by wildfire smoke and winter smog episodes (Figure 4). In 2022, there were 256 exceedances of the 24-hour AAAQO for PM_2.5 in various locations across Alberta. Some air monitoring stations experienced up to 13 days of exceedances. The most frequent exceedances were observed at the Buffalo Viewpoint station in northeastern Alberta, followed by the Barge Landing station (also in northeastern Alberta) and the Edmonton McCauley and Gibbons stations in central Alberta. The AAAQO for PM_2.5 is 29 µg/m³ for 24-hour periods based on the protection of human health.

Air quality reporting and resources 

• Alberta reports annually on the status of air quality for existing regional air quality management frameworks (AQMFs) as well as the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS).
  • PM_2.5 is one of the pollutants reported on through the South Saskatchewan Region (SSR) AQMF as well as the CAAQS.
  • The most recent assessment results are available in Alberta’s Air Zone Reports. 
• Published reports and scientific papers on air quality in Alberta are available via the Air Indicators landing page under ‘Related Publications’.
• Alberta also provides air quality data and information to the public through the near real-time AQHI website and provides access to quality assured data via Alberta’s Air Data Warehouse.

Data limitations

• Between 2010 and 2017, older equipment at Alberta’s air monitoring stations was replaced with new monitoring equipment for PM_2.5. These new monitors measure an additional portion (semi-volatile) of the PM_2.5 mass not captured by older monitors.
• As older monitoring equipment used between 2000 and 2017 likely underreported concentrations of PM_2.5 under some conditions, after 2010, the increase in PM_2.5 concentrations may be a result of changes in monitoring equipment. Most importantly, concentrations measured with the new monitors may not be directly comparable with measurements from years in which older monitors were used.

Focused study

In response to an exceedance of the national Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) in the Red Deer area in the 2011-2013 assessment, a focused study was initiated to measure PM_2.5 composition and precursor gases at 3 monitoring stations between 2017 and 2019. The objective of the study was to assess regional and local sources of PM_2.5 and inform management actions to improve air quality.

Key findings include:

• Elevated PM_2.5 concentrations were regional scale events, with similar and correlated concentrations observed at two stations in Red Deer, and at a site located 9.4 km upwind of the city.
• When wildfire-impacted samples are removed, PM_2.5 concentrations are largest in the spring, and are dominated by the sulphate and nitrate factors (74%) (Figure 5).
• The sulphate factor is consistent with a regional source, which could include the coal-fired power plants and the smaller upstream oil and gas operations in the area. The elevated nitrate factors appeared to be affected by local emissions sources, which could include both urban and industrial sources, and promoted by meteorological conditions.
• Reducing oxides of nitrogen could help to manage PM_2.5 concentrations in the region.