A worrisome find has stoked the curiosity of scientists in Canada. A huge ring of mercury, 7300 miles long, surrounds the territory that holds the tar sands in Canada, an area slated for energy exploration.
The ring is composed of land and water that is heavily contaminated with mercury.
The scientists working in the tar sands projects are preparing a preliminary report on the finding. The contaminated soil has 16 times the concentration of mercury than the surrounding earth. The cause is most likely the excavation and transportation of bitumen that is then processed for tar extraction.
The environmental impact of the find raises fresh concerns about the exploration of the tar sands, something that environmental protection associations have been warning about for years. Not only does the energy intensive extraction of the tar in itself cause carbon emissions increase, but also devastation of the tar sands beds. This new finding is now raising more flags, since the mercury is mixing with water, and will eventually end up in the atmosphere and the water table below.
Scientists also warn that the 'ring' of mercury will probably travel to regions far from where it is now, and pose a serious threat to people's health. Mercury is a potent carcinogen.
Already signs are becoming evident of bioaccumulation. Mercury is a substance that becomes more concentrated as it moves up through the food chain. Bird eggs have been found to contain high levels of mercury. The eggs were collected downstream from where the tar sands project is.
Another form of mercury was also found in the area, Methylmercury, which is even more toxic than mercury itself. The toxic compound was found in the snow surrounding the area.
Source : Al Jazeera/ 12.30.13
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