If you belch out toxins, they must end up somewhere

New research released this week shows that heavy metal pollution from tar sands development is contaminating rivers in the Athabasca region, despite the claims by government and industry that the pollution is from natural sources.

Dr. David Schindler, one of the authors of the paper, put it this way:

"There's no way industry can be belching out hundreds of kilograms of toxins every year and this not be detectable in the environment unless the monitoring program is totally incompetent,"

The study found 13 metals and metalloids, deemed priority pollutants by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in snow and water. Seven of those were above levels considered safe by the Canadian government, and higher concentrations were found downstream from tar sands development than upstream.

At first, an Alberta government scientist responded with the usual refrain that the pollution comes from natural sources. This is the second peer-reviewed study published by Dr. Schindler that refutes that, yet the government wants us to keep on believing their side without providing any data to back it up. Next Energy Minister Ron Liepert tried to shoot the messenger by questioning Dr. Schindler's credibility. And then yesterday, Premier Ed Stelmach responded to say that his scientists would sit down with the researchers to figure out the discrepancy. The study has, rightfully, struck a nerve.

Meanwhile, federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice stuck to his line that the lead and mercury found in the water is natural.

The Liberal Environment Critic, however, had a different take. David McGuinty said that "the federal government has to exercise its exclusive constitutional responsibility and enforce its existing environmental standards...That means Fisheries Act prosecutions if required, that means exercising the powers they have at their fingertips. Minister Prentice has got to stop bobbing and weaving now and he's got to do his job."

Hopefully, more federal politicians will start to take the type of action Mr. McGuinty is talking about.

Gillian McEachern
Program Manager