Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives and Guidelines

Introduction

Alberta's Ambient Air Quality Objectives (AAAQOs) and Guidelines (AAAQGs) are developed under section 12 of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA). Objectives and guidelines may be developed under EPEA for all of parts of Alberta and are a component of Alberta’s air quality management system.

Read Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives and Guidelines.

Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives

AAAQOs are developed to protect human health and the environment and address the concerns of Albertans. AAAQOs are used in a variety of contexts, including:

as part of regulatory applications
to establish approval conditions
to assess beyond project boundary impacts
to inform Albertans about ambient air quality
to guide air quality surveys and focused studies
to augment reporting of the national Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)
to report on the condition of the environment in Alberta

Alberta Ambient Air Quality Guidelines

Unlike AAAQOs, AAAQGs are used for more specific environmental protection goals, including as an indicator for some types of odour. They are a tool for planning and air quality management, such as:

as a general performance indicator of ambient air quality
to assess air quality trends over time
to assess local air quality concerns (for example, nuisance dust, etc.)

AAAQGs for odour management

AAAQGs for odour management (odour guidelines) are a subset of AAAQGs and are used as an indicator for the need to manage of some types of odour. Odour guidelines may be used for:

identifying and characterizing an odour issue
identifying the source(s) of an odour
providing a quantitative, evidence-based validation of odour-based complaints
where applicable, to manage emissions that impact local ambient air quality through regulatory air quality modelling and management plans for odour

Regulatory application of AAAQOs and AAAQGs

AAAQOs and AAAQGs are the principal regulatory tool for the management of ambient air quality in the province.

AAAQOs and AAAQGs apply to anyone who releases a substance into the atmosphere, including those specified in Chapter 1 of Alberta’s Air Monitoring Directive (AMD). Ambient air concentrations above AAAQOs and AAAQGs must be reported as outlined in the AMD using specific reporting protocols.

Anyone responsible for activities that emit substances into the atmosphere requiring an EPEA approval, operating under a Code of Practice, or as required by other regulatory agencies in Alberta must undertake air quality modelling (see the Air Quality Model Guideline [2021]) to demonstrate impact relative to:

AAAQOs
AAAQGs where it is reasonable to expect a local concern

Development of AAAQOs and AAAQGs

AAAQOs and AAAQGs are based on scientific information about the impacts of substances released to the atmosphere on human health and the environment. They may be updated as new scientific information becomes available. Many considerations are made, and may include:

monitoring technology
natural ranges and fluctuations in concentrations
types of sensitive receptors
the behavior of the substance in the atmosphere and environment
technological and economic feasibility of controlling or monitoring the substance
comparison to other jurisdictions

Public consultation is required, including the opportunity for feedback on which substances AAAQOs and AAAQGs are developed for. The following steps are taken in the public consultation process:

materials developed for public review are posted for consideration for at least 60 days (those subscribed to the mailing list (see below) will be notified)
feedback received from the review period is consolidated and analyzed with revisions as needed
final documents are posted online with an effective date at least 60 days following (those subscribed to the mailing list (see below) will be notified)
ambient air quality monitoring stakeholders have 90 days from the effective date to update or implement monitoring protocols and report according to the new or amended AAAQO or AAAQG

Mailing list

The department has an automatic emailing system to distribute information on ambient air quality objectives to subscribers. This list is open to department staff, industry, non-government organizations, consultants and members of the public.

Check that your email address is correct before you subscribe. If you do not receive a confirmation email, your subscription was not successful.

The personal information collected through the Ambient Air Quality Objectives webpage may be used for the purpose of providing you with an Ambient Air Quality Objectives Mailing List subscription to receive provincial air quality policy and modelling updates.

This personal information collection is authorized under Section 8 (1) (2) of the Government Organization Act, and is being managed in accordance with Section 33 (c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

If you have any questions about this collection of personal information, you may contact the Senior Ambient Standards Specialist at 780-427-4979 or by email at: [email protected]

Industrial air management

The following document provides guidance for the implementation of Ambient Air Quality Objectives in air dispersion modelling and ambient air monitoring:

Using Ambient Air Quality Objectives in Industrial Dispersion Modelling and Individual Industrial Site Monitoring

This document is currently under revision and an updated version will be posted after revisions are complete.

Supporting documents

Substance descriptions, effects and information about AAAQO or AAAQG concentration levels are provided in supporting documents.

Contact

Connect with us if you have questions or feedback on the ambient air quality objectives:

Email: [email protected]

Introduction

Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives

Alberta Ambient Air Quality Guidelines

AAAQGs for odour management

Regulatory application of AAAQOs and AAAQGs

Development of AAAQOs and AAAQGs

Mailing list

Industrial air management

Supporting documents

2-Ethylhexanol

Acetone

Acrolein

Acrylic Acid

Acrylonitrile

Ammonia

Arsenic

Benzene

Benzo(a)pyrene

Carbon Disulphide

Cumene

Ethylbenzene

Ethylene

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

Formaldehyde

Hexane

Hydrogen Fluoride

Isopropanol

Manganese

Naphthalene

Nickel

Nitrogen Dioxide

Ozone

Pentachlorophenol

Propylene Oxide

Sulphur Dioxide

Toluene

Total Reduced Sulphur

Xylenes

Contact

Fine Particulate Matter (PM_2.5)