title: Has Alberta oil sands development increased far-field delivery of airborne contaminants to the Peace-Athabasca Delta?
abstract: Identifying potential regional contamination by Alberta oil sands industrial emissions on sensitive ecosystems like the Peace-Athabasca Delta, ~200 km to the north, requires knowledge of historical contaminant levels and trends. Here we provide some of these critically-needed data, based on analysis of metals in a sediment core from an upland precipitation-fed lake in the delta. The lake is well-situated to record the anthropogenic history of airborne contaminant deposition for this region. Sediment records of metals of concern (Pb, Sb, As, Hg) reflect early to mid-20th century increases in North American industrial emissions, followed by reduced emissions due to improved industrial practices after 1950-70. Notably, Pb, Sb, As and Hg have declined since the onset of Alberta oil sands production, belying concerns that this activity has enhanced far-field atmospheric delivery of these contaminants to the delta.
authors: Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1.
authors: Johan A
authors: JA
authors: Wiklund
authors: Roland I
authors: RI
authors: Hall
authors: Brent B
authors: BB
authors: Wolfe
authors: Thomas W D
authors: TW
authors: Edwards
authors: Andrea J
authors: AJ
authors: Farwell
authors: D George
authors: DG
authors: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution; D000416:Alberta; D009821:Oils; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
chemical_list: D009821:Oils; D012822:Silicon Dioxide