Toxics

Toxics Awareness and Education

One of Canada's most prominent environmental statutes is the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).  In the 1970s Canada developed the Environmental Contaminants Act which served to regulate toxic substances throughout the 1970s and 80s. ... Read more »

Toxic Sludge

Over the past ten years, more and more industries have been allowed to put their industrial liquid wastes on agricultural lands as a kind of 'soil conditioner'. ... Read more »

Oil Sands Independent Toxins Report

2010-09-01

On August 31st, 2010, a study which was led by University of Alberta researchers was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which conclusively shows that numerous highly toxic pollutants are being released into the Athabasca River and its tributaries by the development of the oil sands.

The levels exceeded both federal and provincial government guidelines.

The report is available for download here.

Excerpted from the report:... Read more »

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Renner Dismisses Oilsands Toxins Report

EDMONTON — Alberta's environment minister disputed the conclusions of a controversial oilsands study Tuesday, saying it's likely that increased toxins in the Athabasca River are due to natural causes.

But Rob Renner admitted he hadn't read the paper and could point to no peer-reviewed data or studies to back up his assertion.

"My scientists are telling me that the amount of compounds that can be detected in the Athabasca River at this point in time are not a concern and are of insignificant levels," Renner said. "The fact remains that there are naturally occurring substances in the water. And if we had never set foot in the region those kinds of results would still be there."

Renner said the task ahead is to tease out what toxins in the river are from industrial development and what occur naturally from bitumen seeping into the river.... Read more »