Oil Sands Development, Increasing Pollution Levels Linked

January 10, 2013

Oil sands producers found themselves in the midst of a fresh attack from the environmental community when a new study released Monday identified levels of oil sands-related contamination that appear to have intensified since the beginning of commercial development to present day. Core samples extracted from 6 regional lakes showed the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons up to 50 miles north of Fort McMurray, Alberta - the hub of oil sands mining activity.

"Our research tells a consistent story of increased contaminants and ecological change that has occurred in the region since industrial development of bitumen resources began," Joshua Kurek, a postdoctoral fellow at Queen's University, Department of Biology is quoted as saying on the university's website.
 
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