A study done by Canadians. It's quite long. I did not read the whole thing. Here's the abstract.
Does the Alberta Tar Sands Industry Pollute? The Scientific Evidence
Kevin P. Timoney*,1 and Peter Lee2
1
Treeline Ecological Research, 21551 Twp Rd 520, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada T8E 1E3; 2Global Forest Watch
Canada, 10337 146 St, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5N 3A3, Canada
Abstract: The extent to which pollution from tar sands industrial activities in northeastern Alberta, Canada affects
ecosystem and human health is a matter of growing concern that is exacerbated by uncertainty. In this paper we determine
whether physical and ecological changes that result from tar sands industrial activities are detectable. We analyze a
diverse set of environmental data on water and sediment chemistry, contaminants in wildlife, air emissions, pollution
incidents, traditional ecological observations, human health, and landscape changes from the Athabasca Tar Sands region,
Canada. Increases in contaminants in water, sediment, and fishes downstream of industrial sources; significant air
emissions and major pollution incidents; and the loss of 65,040 ha of boreal ecosystems are documented. Present levels of
some contaminants pose an ecosystem or human health risk. The effects of these pollutants on ecosystem and public
health deserve immediate and systematic study. Projected tripling of tar sands activities over the next decade may result in
unacceptably large and unforeseen impacts to biodiversity, ecosystem function, and public health. The attention of the
world’s scientific community is urgently needed.
cahr.uvic.ca |
