Snow, Oil Sands Region

Atmospheric Contaminant Deposition using Snowpack 


The data set includes snow samples (metals, water chemistry and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs]). Data from 2012-2014 snowpack samples collected from ~90-130 sites located varying distances from the major oil sands development area show deposition patterns and levels consistent with earlier studies carried out in 2008 (Kelly et al. PNAS, 2009 and 2010). As with earlier findings, concentrations of numerous metals, water chemistry parameters (Ni, Pb, Zn, V, La, Al, Fe, total Hg, methyl Hg, total suspended solids [TSS], particulate organic carbon [POC], particulate organic nitrogen [PON], total phosphorus [TP]) and PAHs decrease with distance from the major mining extraction and upgrading facilities. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) guidelines do not exist for snow.


All data are subjects of a publication containing method details, full QA/QC, interpretations and conclusions. Citations:


A. Dastoor, A. Ryjkov, G. Kos, J. Zhang, J.L. Kirk, M. Parsons, A. Steffen. 2021. Impact of Athabasca oil sands operations on mercury levels in air and deposition. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 21, 12783-12807.


L. Chibwe, D.C.G. Muir, Y. Gopalapillai, D. Shang, F. Yang, J.L. Kirk, C. Manzano, B. Atkinson, X. Wang, C. Teixeira. 2021. Long-term spatial and temporal trends, and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic compounds in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region. Environmental Pollution 268A, 115351.


J. Culp, I. Droppo, P. di Cenzo, A. Alexander-Trusiak, D. Baird, S. Beltaos, G. Bickerton, B. Bonsal, R. Brua, P. Chambers, Y. Dibike, N. Glozier, J.L. Kirk, L. Levesque, M. McMaster, D.C.G. Muir, J. Parrott, D. Peters, K. Pippy, J. Roy. 2021. Ecological effects and causal synthesis of oil sands activity impacts on river ecosystems: water synthesis review. Environmental Reviews 29. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2020-0082.


Y. Gopalapillai, J. L. Kirk, M.S. Landis, D.C.G. Muir, C.A. Cooke, C.A., A. Gleason, A. Ho, E. Kelly, D. Schindler, X. Wang, G. Lawson. 2019. Source analysis of pollutant elements in winter air deposition in the Athabasca oil sands region: A Temporal and Spatial Study. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 38, 1656-1668.


W. Wasiuta, J.L. Kirk, P.A. Chambers, A.C. Alexander, F.R. Wyatt, R.C. Rooney, C.A. Cooke. 2019. Accumulating mercury and methylmercury burdens in watersheds impacted by oil sands pollution. Environmental Science & Technology 53, 12856-12864.


C. Manzano, D. Muir, J. L. Kirk, C. Teixeira, M. Siu, X. Wang, J.P. Charland, D. Schindler, E. Kelly. 2016. Temporal variation in the deposition of polycyclic aromatic compounds in snow in the Athabasca Oil Sands area of Alberta. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 188, 542.


and


J.L. Kirk, D. Muir, A. Gleason, X, Wang, R. Frank, I. Lehnherr, F. Wrona. 2014. Atmospheric deposition of mercury and methyl mercury to landscapes and waterbodies of the Athabasca oil sands region. Environmental Science & Technology 48, 73747383.


Supplemental Information


Supporting Projects: 

Canada-Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Monitoring

Organization: Environment and Climate Change Canada | Environnement et Changement climatique Canada