Chemicals such as arsenic when combined with other chemicals have serious carcinogenic effects (these chemicals enter into the water/sediment of the rivers nearby).
The majority of the tar sands operations occur within the world’s 3rd largest watershed which is a key location for migratory birds (the oil causes birds to sink) and other key species.
The Athabasca river environment is directly affected by this extraction. Furthermore, a vast number of tar sands sources are located under Boreal forest,.
Alberta is home to several species of duck, caribou and moose. Boreal forest is larger than the Brazilian forest.
Since the start of these tar sands operations there has been a 50% decline in woodland dwelling species. The water intensive procedure wastes and pollutes water creating 1.8 billion litres per day of wastewater.
These companies are given full access to public land and water by the government, polluting Canada’s natural environment for free.
More shockingly, for a country with an international image of natural beauty, there are few environmental regulations in place and almost no prosecutions relating environmental transgressions.
By Sarina Chandaria
Year 13
"1.8 billion litres per day of wastewater."