A decadal synthesis of atmospheric emissions, ambient air quality, and deposition in the oil sands region.

This review is part of a series synthesizing peer-reviewed literature from the past decade on environmental monitoring in the oil sands region (OSR) of northeastern Alberta. It focuses on atmospheric emissions, air quality, and deposition in and downwind of the OSR. Most published monitoring and research activities were concentrated in the surface-mineable region in the Athabasca OSR.

An integrated knowledge synthesis of regional ambient monitoring in Canada's oil sands.

The desire to document and understand the cumulative implications of oil sands (OS) development in the ambient environment of northeastern Alberta has motivated increased investment and release of information in the past decade. Here, we summarize the knowledge presented in the theme-based review papers in this special series, including air, surface water, terrestrial biology, and Indigenous community-based monitoring in order to (1) consolidate knowledge gained to date, (2) highlight key commonalities and gaps, and (3) leverage this knowledge to assess the state of integration in environmental monitoring efforts in the OS region and suggest next steps. Among air, water, and land studies, the individual reviews identified a clear focus on describing stressors, including primarily (1) contaminant emission, transport, transformation, deposition, and exposure, and (2) landscape disturbance.

Total Mercury and Methylmercury in Lake Water of Canada's Oil Sands Region.

Increased delivery of mercury to ecosystems is a common consequence of industrialization, including in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) of Canada. Atmospheric mercury deposition has been studied previously in the AOSR; however, less is known about the impact of regional industry on toxic methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in lake ecosystems. We measured total mercury (THg) and MeHg concentrations for five years from 50 lakes throughout the AOSR.

Impacts of a large boreal wildfire on ground level atmospheric concentrations of PAHs, VOCs and ozone.

During May 2016 a very large boreal wildfire burned throughout the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) in central Canada, and in close proximity to an extensive air quality monitoring network. This study examines speciated 24-h integrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and volatile organic compound (VOC) measurements collected every sixth day at four and seven sites, respectively, from May to August 2016. The sum of PAHs (ΣPAH) was on average 17 times higher in fire-influenced samples (852 ng m, n = 8), relative to non-fire influenced samples (50 ng m, n = 64).