Regional-scale emissions for 16 PAH and 21 Alkylated PAHs, Oil Sands Region

Regional distributions of annual emissions for 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 21 Alkylated PAHs were developed for the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) in northern Alberta, Canada, covering an area of approximately 300 by 420 km2. Gas-phase emissions of these species were estimated from volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, while particle-phase emissions were estimated from particulate matter (PM) emissions, using speciation profiles documented in the U.S. EPA SPECIATE database and recent literature. The resulting emission inventory was validated by comparing dispersion model simulated ambient concentrations, using the developed emissions as model input, with passive sampling measurements collected at 17 monitoring sites. This dataset provides annual emissions of 16 PAHs and 21 Alkylated PAHs over a region spanning 114°W–110°W and 55°N–59°N. The dataset is intended for use in air quality modeling studies to assess the cumulative environmental impacts of oil sands industrial activities on ecosystems and communities within the oil sands region and in downwind areas.

Publisher

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Resources

2

Updated

2026-08-31