BIOMASS COMBUSTION AS AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE IN CANADA: POLICY PERSPECTIVES RELATED TO THE EMISSION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS

摘要

Due to predictions of increased technological and economical feasibility of commercial biomass energy use in Canada over the next five to ten years, this paper attempts to address the public health and environmental issues from a policy perspective. Overall, the analysis of complex mixtures of similar compounds using the energy specific index, a measure of mass of pollutant emitted per unit of energy produced, multiplied by a toxic equivalency factor appears to be a reasonable and promising tool to assess energy options. This paper suggests that commercial-scale biomass combustion, as an alternative energy source to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, should be carefully assessed since increased emission levels of toxic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons compared to fossil fuel combustion could result. In conclusion, more research and development of biomass combustion technology in Canada and around the world with an emphasis on the control of toxic emissions is necessary to ensure that a solution to CO{sub}2 emission level reduction does not result in the increased production of other toxic air pollution emissions.