Oil sands' toxins accumulate in freshwater ecosystems

 

 
Studies have shown that oil sands operations lead to pollutants being released into water systems
 

Toxic pollutants released by oil

sands mining operations are accumulating in freshwater ecosystems, research by

Canadian scientists suggests.

A study of sediment in nearby lakes showed the level of pollutants, known as

PAHs, had risen since the 1960s when oil sands development began.

However, the researchers added that PAH concentrations were still lower than

those found in urban lakes.

The findings appear in the Proceedings of the

National Academy of Sciences

.

PAH refers to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - a group of chemicals that

have been shown to affect aquatic organisms and birds. PAHs have also been

described as being responsible for damaging food crops.

The chemicals occur naturally in coal, crude oil, and petroleum; they are

also present in products made from fossil fuels, such as creosote and asphalt.

PAHs also can be released into the air during the burning of fossil fuels and

organic matter - the less efficient the burning process, the more PAHs are given

off. Forest fires and volcanoes produce PAHs naturally.