Characterization of air emissions from pulp and paper mill facilities in atlantic Canada

Abstract

A kraft pulp mill that operated in Pictou (KPMP), Nova Scotia for more than 50 years is considered a major source of environmental pollution, although its air emissions have not been widely studied. To address this gap, this research compares air releases from the KPMP with other industrial facilities releases and with regulations. A comparison between nine different pulp and/or paper mills in Atlantic Canada between 2002-2019 suggested that pulp mills emit higher pollutant loads than those producing paper and that the highest release was fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from the KPMP. The KPMP releases were also 10 and 1000 times the releases of a tire manufacturing facility and a coal-fired power plant nearby, and results suggest that the KPMP was likely the primary source for high PM2.5 concentrations in Pictou. Air quality PM2.5 management levels in Pictou became green following the installation of a precipitator by the KPMP in 2015.