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About Nitrogen Oxide Emissions
Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) is produced as the result of the combustion of fuel in vehicles, furnaces, and electrical utility boilers. However, the emissions that cause acid rain here are not from Canada alone. Over half of the acid rain causing emissons are from the United States. Therefore, if we truly want to reduce the levels of acid rain in Canada, efforts must be made by both Canada and the United States. In 2000 the United States produced eight times more nitrogen oxide emissions than Canada. Below are two graphs which compare the sources of the nitrogen oxide emissons produced by both Canada and the United States.
Canada's principal source of nitrogen oxide is from transportation producing 60% of emissions. The second largest source of nitrogen oxide is indutrial sources producing 25% of emissons. This is mainly the emissions from smokestacks. The third largest source of nitrogen oxide is from electric utilies with 11%. Fuel combustion produces a small percent of the nitrogen oxide in Canada.
The United States' primary source of nitrogen oxide is from transportation, producing 54% od emissions. The second largest source of nitrogen oxide is from electric utilities, with 22%. Fuel combustion produces 17% of the United States's nitrogen oxide. This is mainly from the combustion of fuel in vehicles. Industrial sources produce a small percent of the United States' nitrogen oxide.
The above graphs are from 2000 and 2002. The levels of nitrogen oxide emitted into our environment have decreased as we've made efforts to reduce them since then. However, they still exhibit the main sources of nitrogen oxide emissions, which have remained the same.
Graphs from Environment Canada <http://www.ec.gc.ca/acidrain/acidfact.html>