Ambient air quality objectives

These objectives are intended to provide protection of the environment and human health to an extent technically and economically feasible, as well as socially and politically acceptable.
 
The objectives are used to report on the state of Alberta's  atmospheric environment; to inform Albertans on air quality through an air quality index; to establish approval conditions for regulated industrial facilities; to evaluate proposals for constructing facilities; to guide special ambient air quality surveys and to assess compliance near major industrial air emission sources.
 
Alberta Environment ensures that emissions from human activities will be minimized and that air quality continues to be better than the Ambient Air Quality Objectives.
 
These objectives are based on scientific, social, technical and economic factors that include:
 
Sensitive receptors
Is one component of the environment or one stage in an organism's development more sensitive than another?
 
Substance behaviour in the atmosphere
What reactions do a substance undergo and how long is the substance in the air?
 
Substance behaviour in the environment
Can the substance bioaccumulate or biodegrade after entering the environment?
 
Natural levels and fluctuations
Do substances fluctuate as they enter the atmosphere from natural but uncontrollable sources (e.g. forest fires)?
 
Technological availability
What is the cost and availability of technology to control or avoid emissions?
 
Monitoring
Can the substance be routinely monitored in the atmosphere?
 
Alberta Environment has been reviewing ambient air quality objectives by multi-stakeholder consultation since 2000. Alberta now has air quality objectives for more than 30 substances that could be released to the atmosphere.
 
This document summarizes Alberta’s ambient air quality objectives
 
Any proposed new objective is posted for public review.