In these early days of Peak oil unconventional energy source exploitation is becoming an ever larger part of the energy supply. Tar sands extraction activities began in Alberta, Canada in the 1960s and have expanded tremendously during recent years. The US now obtains more oil from tar sands than from any other foreign source. Tar sands extraction and upgrading in Alberta has poisoned the Athabasca River. Pollutant carcinogens including: arsenic, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), lead, cadmium and chromium are present at elevated and oftentimes health threatening levels in the water, the fish and the game. The people of Fort Chipewyan have suffered terribly as a result of this contamination of their homelands. Rare cancer is not rare in this community. The battle to stop tar sands is well underway here.
Dr. Kevin Timoney, Treeline Ecological Research Donald L. Hassig, Director, Cancer Action NY and Cancer Action Network