Sources can be natural or caused by humans. Natural sources of pollutants include forest fires, wind-blown dust and volcanoes. Human sources include emissions from fossil fuel burning (oil, gas and coal), wood burning and stirred-up dust from vehicles or construction.
A point source is a single, stationary source of pollution, such as an industrial facility, that typically operates under some kind of government authorization (e.g., a permit, approval or regulation). A nonpoint source includes stationary and mobile sources that are individually small compared to point sources, but collectively large, such as wood stoves, motor vehicles and lawnmowers. It also includes sources whose emissions are spread out over a broad area, such as prescribed burning
For more information, see Where Do Air Pollutants Come From? (B.C. Air Action Plan) Scroll halfway down the page for this pie chart.
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