Stronger air quality regulations coming to Nova Scotia in June

A smoke stack is pictured in a file image. (CTV file)

Nova Scotia is adding 20 air pollutants to its list of regulated emissions, effective June 1.

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Timothy Halman announced Thursday an increase in the number of regulated air pollutants from six to 26, according to a news release from the Government of Nova Scotia.

This sets more limits under the Environment Act on the amount and type of air pollution an industry can emit. The last substantive update to the regulations was in 1995.

“Industrial facilities such as manufacturing plants and power-generating stations, which release emissions through stacks, generate air pollutants, as do operations that result in dust, such as mines and quarries,” reads the news release Thursday.

Industries and companies with environmental approvals in Nova Scotia are required to submit air assessments and emissions data, which air quality specialists will use to ensure they’re complying with the province’s laws.

“Together, we can keep our air, environment and people safe from air pollution, while also allowing the industries that provide good-paying jobs for Nova Scotians to succeed,” says Halman in the release.

The 26 air pollutants that will be regulated under law beginning June 1 are:

• acrolein
• ammonia
• arsenic
• benzene
• benzo(a)pyrene
• cadmium
• carbon monoxide
• chromium (hexavalent)
• cobalt
• copper
• dioxins and furans
• formaldehyde
• lead
• manganese
• mercury
• nickel
• nitrogen dioxide
• coarse particles
• fine particles
• total suspended particles
• phenol
• selenium
• sulphur dioxide
• total reduced sulphur
• vanadium
• zinc

“Clean, maritime air is essential for healthy lungs. By strengthening air quality regulations and increasing the number of pollutants being monitored, Nova Scotia is taking an important step in preventing lung disease,” says president and CEO of LungNSPEI Robert MacDonald in the release.

MacDonald notes reducing exposure to air pollution will help lower the risk of conditions like asthma and COPD and help Nova Scotians breathe easier.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page