NEWS (Past News) (Subscribe to the "GFWC News" mailing list)

Research Documents Pollution from Alberta's Tar Sands and Calls for the Urgent Attention of the World's Scientific Community

Download this press release as a PDF
View Backgrounder

EDMONTON, October 22, 2009 - A new study, published in The Open Conservation Biology Journal, documents that physical and ecological changes that result from tar sands industrial activities are detectable and that the effects of these activities on ecosystem and public health deserve immediate and systematic study.

The lead author, Dr. Kevin Timoney states, "The evidence reveals ecological and environmental health impacts from tar sands exploitation." Industry and government have thus far neglected to provide such information to the public.

The study analyzed 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.

The study documents how government agencies and energy companies have failed to provide timely, accurate and comprehensive environmental studies. The industry-led Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program was found unable to measure and assess development-related change locally or in a cumulative way.

"Present levels of some contaminants from tar sands development pose a human health risk," says Dr. Timoney. Elevated levels of mercury and arsenic in the local fishes pose a dilemma due to the nutritional value of fish and the traditional-cultural and economic importance of fish to Ft. Chipewyan residents.

The study found that air particulates pose health concerns, as they contain not only organic contaminants such as PAHs but also a suite of metals such as vanadium and arsenic.

For years, the people of Ft. Chipewyan have believed that they are suffering increased rates of cancer, diabetes, and heart problems. Recent studies have found that incidences of several forms of cancer, type II diabetes, lupus, renal failure, and hypertension are elevated in Fort Chipewyan.

The study examined old and new satellite images in order to map industrial conversion of 65,000 ha of boreal landscape. Peter Lee, of Global Forest Watch Canada and a study co-author, states, "Between 1992 and 2008, the extent of tailings ponds grew by 422% while the extent of mine pits, facilities, and infrastructure grew by 383%. These ecosystem conversions have resulted in the loss of many tens of thousands, and perhaps hundreds of thousands of birds, in addition to losses of other wildlife species."

Dr. Timoney concludes: "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. We are encouraged by the recent announcement from the Royal Society of Canada of its plans to study the environmental and health impacts of Canada's oil sands industry."

Download the research paper here.

Contact:

Dr. Kevin Timoney (primary spokesman): 780-922-3741
Email: ktimoney@interbaun.com

Peter Lee: 780-422-5989
Email: peter@globalforestwatch.ca

Backgrounder: Does the Alberta Tar Sands Industry Pollute?
The Scientific Evidence

Download this backgrounder as a PDF

Timoney Kevin P, and Peter Lee. 2009. Does the Alberta Tar Sands Industry Pollute? The Scientific Evidence. The Open Conservation Biology Journal, 2009, 3, 65-81. Available at: www.globalforestwatch.ca OR www.bentham.org/open/toconsbj/openaccess2.htm

This research paper reports on the analysis of 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.

The study documents how government agencies and energy companies have failed to provide timely, accurate and comprehensive environmental studies. The industry-led Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program was found unable to measure and assess development-related change locally or in a cumulative way.

This research paper answers this question: "To what degree are tar sands industrial activities detectable in the ecosystems of northeastern Alberta?" in four ways.

  1. Do present levels of contaminants, regardless of origin, present an ecosystem or human health concern? Yes. Data indicate that contaminants of concern include PAHs, mercury, and arsenic in the lower Athabasca River system and air pollutants.
  2. Is there evidence of increased levels of contaminants when sites downstream of industry are compared to sites upstream of industry? Yes. Increased levels of PAHs in the Muskeg River and of porewater metals in the Athabasca River are examples.
  3. Is there evidence of increased levels of contaminants over time? Yes. Data indicate increased levels of PAHs in sediment, of mercury in fishes, of arsenic in water and sediment, and of criteria air contaminants such as PM2.5, VOCs, and sulphur dioxide. Increased rates of fish abnormalities have been observed by local fishermen.
  4. Are there documented incidents of industrial pollution or degradation? Yes. Examples include spills in 1967-68, 1970, 1982, and 2007 into the Athabasca River. Pollution from the Alsands Ditch led to elevated levels of sulphate, cations, and various metals in the Muskeg River. Large numbers of birds die each year due to exposure to tailings ponds. Native biota have been obliterated from 65,040 ha of boreal landscape.

Other key points:

  • The evidence reveals ecological and environmental health impacts from tar sands exploitation. Industry and government have thus far neglected to provide such information to the public.
  • Present levels of some contaminants from tar sands development pose a human health risk. Elevated levels of mercury and arsenic in the local fishes pose a dilemma due to the nutritional value of fish and the traditional-cultural and economic importance of fish to Ft. Chipewyan residents.
  • The study found that air particulates pose health concerns, as they contain not only organic contaminants such as PAHs but also a suite of metals such as vanadium and arsenic.
  • For years, the people of Ft. Chipewyan have believed that they are suffering increased rates of cancer, diabetes, and heart problems. Recent studies have found that incidences of several forms of cancer, type II diabetes, lupus, renal failure, and hypertension are elevated in Fort Chipewyan.
  • Between 1992 and 2008, the extent of tailings ponds grew by 422% while the extent of mine pits, facilities, and infrastructure grew by 383%. These ecosystem conversions have resulted in the loss of many tens of thousands, and perhaps hundreds of thousands of birds, in addition to losses of other wildlife species.
  • Given the 40-year history of licensed and unlicensed discharges into air, soil, and water, the 'baseline' predevelopment condition of the Athabasca River may have been lost long ago. Presently, we cannot quantitatively apportion contaminant levels into natural and industrial sources.
  • The attention of the world's scientific community is urgently needed. The extent to which tar sands pollutants are affecting ecosystem and public health deserves immediate and systematic study. Short of this, the projected tripling of tar sands activities over the next decade may result in unacceptably large and unforeseen impacts.

Previous GFWC News Releases and Media Material (PDFs)

September 2009:
New study reveals substantial unreported quantities of greenhouse gas emissions from the oil sands in the boreal forests of Alberta, Canada

June 2009:
New Satellite-based maps reveal rapid changes to Nova Scotia's forests April 2009:
New atlas reveals rapid disappearance of the last great intact boreal forests of Alberta April 2009:
New maps identify industrial disturbances that threaten woodland caribou in Canada May 2007:
New Boreal Information Centre Created for North America March 2007:
Landmark report reveals a decade of rapid change in Ontario's Boreal February 2007:
The latest "Before and After" Satellite Imagery Reveals Striking Picture of Industrial-Caused Changes to the Pascagama Site of Québec's Boreal Forest May 2006:
Recent Anthropogenic Changes within the Boreal Plains Ecozone of Saskatchewan and Manitoba March 2006:
Satellite Imagery Reveals New Picture of Canada's Remaining Wild Forests February 2006:
Satellite Imagery Reveals Striking Picture of Human-Caused Changes to Québec's Boreal Forest July 2004:
Where Land and Waters Meet: An Assessment of Canada's Riparian Forest Management Standards May 2004:
Forest companies increase their mill capacity to handle increased cutting in Canada's boreal forest April 2004:
Large logging companies' control of public forest lands growing January 2004:
New report reveals that shorelines in Canada's forested watersheds are impacted by logging practices November 2003:
Study shows Aboriginal people are not economically benefiting from living in Canada's commercial forest September 2003:
Satellite imagery reveals new picture of Canada's wild forests


...For more GFWC news, please visit:
http://www.globalforestwatch.org/english/canada/news.htm

(Up to top of News page)