Evaluating temporal patterns of metals concentrations in floodplain lakes of the Athabasca Delta (Canada) relative to pre-industrial baselines

Title: Evaluating temporal patterns of metals concentrations in floodplain lakes of the Athabasca Delta (Canada) relative to pre-industrial baselines

Author:  M.L.Kay^aJ.A.Wiklund^aC.R.Remmer^aT.J.Owca^bW.H.Klemt^aL.K.Neary^aK.Brown^aE.MacDonald^aK.Thomson^bJ.M.Vucic^aK.Wesenberg^aR.I.Hall^aB.B.Wolfe^b

Publisher:  Science of The Total Environment

 

Date:  Volume 704, 20 February 2020, 135309

Full Text Article

Summary:

• Lack of pre-industrial baseline data hampers assessment of oil sands river pollution.
  
• We analyzed metals concentrations in cores of Athabasca Delta floodplain lakes.
  
  
• No enrichment was detected for metals associated with oil sands development.
  
  
• Results inform decision on World Heritage status of Wood Buffalo National Park.
  
  
• A framework has been established for ongoing aquatic ecosystem monitoring.