Scientist have found chemicals used by oilsands companies in western Canada are leaking into the ground water and flowing into the Athabaska River.
The industry has long said the toxic chemicals are safely contained in tailings ponds, but this research indicates that is not true.
Government scientists used new technology to fingerprint the mix of groundwater chemicals in the area and trace their origins.
The Pembina Institute, an environmental research group, has long said the ponds leak. But analyst Erin Flanagan said the new research shows even Pembina underestimated how much.
The Alberta government says the research is of interest, but doesn’t confirm anything. Both it and the Canadian government are heavy promoters of the oilsands industry and its large contribution to the Canadian economy.
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