Toxins Increase In Athabasca River

The Globe & Mail is reporting today that elevated levels of toxins have been found in the Athabasca River. A study, to be published today has found elevated levels of lead, mercury and 11 other toxins. The Athabasca River is the main fresh water source in the region of the Alberta Oil Tar Sands.

The tar sands are huge deposits of bitumen, a tar-like substance that’s turned into oil through complex and energy-intensive processes that cause widespread environmental damage — polluting the Athabasca River, lacing the air with toxins and turning farmland into wasteland. Large areas of the Boreal Forest are being clearcut to make way for development in the tar sands, the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.

If you're concerned about clean water in Canada like I am, please check out Greenpeace and tell your elected officials to stop destroying Canada's Boreal Forest and fresh water sources and  start to focus on renewable energy sources instead of dirty oil.