Canada United States Transboundary Particulate Matter Science Assessment PDF Download

The Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement was established to provide "a practical and effective instrument to address shared concerns regarding transboundary air pollution". Initially, the Agreement was intended to address the primary pollutants responsible for acid rain. However, the Agreement also confirmed the commitment of the United States and Canada to consult on, and develop, the means to address other transboundary air pollution issues, including particulate matter. The Subcommittee on Scientific Cooperation of the AIr Quality Committee was charged to summarize and understand the current knowledge of transboundary transport of particulate matter (PM) and PM precursors between Canada and the United States in a scientific assessment. The assessment represents a significant co-operative effort between scientists in Canada and the United States, and in several cases, the information provided is the first presentation of joint scientific results. The report contains findings on ambient levels, data analyses, and the application of modelling tools in both Canada and the United States. This Assessment will provide the initial scientific knowledge required to determine the need for a PM annex pursuant to the Air Quality Agreement.