Alberta’s oilsands operations produce far more potentially harmful air pollutants than officially recorded — putting the daily output on par with those from gridlocked megacities like Los Angeles, new research suggests.

  • streetfestival@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    37
    ·
    10 months ago

    The researchers from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Yale University found levels that were between 20 and 64 times higher than those reported by industry, depending on the oilsands facility.

    That’s not a small difference

  • xmunk
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    28
    ·
    10 months ago

    Gosh, color me surprised… obviously the solution is to further defund the inspectors so the numbers line up.

  • Showroom7561@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    13
    ·
    10 months ago

    industry reports…

    Ah, yes. Like the reports that Dupont gave when their toxic chemicals were poisoning an entire town and their own employees, but tHe LeVeLs ArE sAfE.

    “Industry reports” like that need to result in some major jail time for everyone important at these companies. Better yet, shut down their entire operation and let them go bankrupt. It’s clear that whatever they are doing is not only destructive to the environment, but to human health. SHUT IT ALL DOWN.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    10 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    Alberta’s oilsands operations produce far more potentially harmful air pollutants than are officially reported, with the daily output on par with those from gridlocked megacities like Los Angeles, new research suggests.

    The study, published today in the academic journal Science, measured concentrations of organic carbon emissions in the air by flying overhead and taking samples.

    The researchers from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Yale University found levels that were between 20 and 64 times higher than those reported by industry, depending on the oilsands facility.

    The chemicals included volatile organic compounds, which are considered dangerous to human health and found on the warning labels of products like nail polish and paint thinners.

    John Liggio, a co-author of the study and an ECCC research scientist, said the total output of these chemicals is roughly on par with what’s produced from all other human sources in the country, ranging from transportation to manufacturing.

    The findings build on previous research that has shown other types of pollutants, including greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, are also higher than the reported totals.


    The original article contains 710 words, the summary contains 178 words. Saved 75%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

  • Glide@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    10 months ago

    Of course they do.

    The numbers had to fudged so the right-wingers can continue to pretend that electronic cars will produce as much pollution as fossil fuels.