Home » Blog » New Science Report - Tar Sands Industry Big Polluter = major oil spill a year
Blog
New Science Report - Tar Sands Industry Big Polluter = major oil spill a year
By Lisa McCrummen
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Canada continues to show the world that it will protect Tar Sands at any cost.
A new independent science report in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that toxic pollution from the oilsands is far greater than the industry has been reporting and disproves industry and Canadian government claims that the pollution found in the Athabasca River is ‘natural’. It also calls into question Canada regulatory oversight system which relies on industry monitoring…
A substantial disposition of airborne particulates (somewhat similar to what comes out of tailpipe of a diesel engine) was found within 50 km of two upgrading facilities (Suncor and Syncrude). The amount of bitumen that was released up to a 50-kilometre area near the Athabasca was equivalent to a major oil spill – one that happens every year in the same area. The closer to the tar sands upgrading facilities, the higher the level of particulates, so much that oil slicks formed on top of melted snow.
Today’s response by the Alberta Government: “any contamination in area soils and rivers is natural and poses no serious health risk.”
Of course, this line is so familiar that the lead author of the report preemptively responded:
“It defie[s] logic to think that all that was going in was natural.”
— lead author David Schindler of the University of Alberta, Edmonton
For more information
- Abstract of Oil sands development contributes polycyclic aromatic compounds to the Athabasca River and its tributaries, Erin N. Kellya, Jeffrey W. Shortb, David W. Schindlera, Peter V. Hodsonc, Mingsheng Maa, Alvin K. Kwana and Barbra L. Fortina, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, October 23, 2009.
- News articles featuring the study
- Tar sands mining linked to stream pollution, Nicola Jones, nature news, 12/7/09
- Toxic chemical levels higher in water downstream of Alberta oilsands plans: study, Hanneke Brooymans, Edmonton Journal, 12/7/09
- Oil sands pollution in Canada worse than industry and government claim, Jeremy Hance, Mongabay.com, 12/7/09
- U of A’s David Schindler confirms untold levels of oil sands pollution on the Athabasca, ScienceBlog, 12/7/09
- Oilsands pollution exceeds official estimates: study, Toronto Star, 12/7/09
- Pollution levels increase due to oilsands operations: study, CTV.ca, 12/7/09
- Untold Levels of Oil Sands Pollution on Athabasca River Confirmed, Science Daily, 12/8/09
- Oil sands emissions polluitng waterways, study finds, Globe and Mail, 12/8/09
- New Study Finds That Oil Sands Development a Greater Source of Contamination Than Previously Realized; Challenges Existing Monitoring Program, Green Car Congress, 12/8/09
- Oilsands more toxic than government and industry claims, Jennifer Anselmo, Edmonton Politics Examiner, 12/8/09
Tagged with: suncor, syncrude, water pollution, david schindler, national academy of sciences
