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Persistent Cytotoxicity and Endocrine Activity in the First Oil Sands End-Pit Lake.
Ian G M Gault1, Chenxing Sun1, Jonathan W Martin2
1Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G3, Canada.
Aging oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) in lakes shows reduced toxicity due to dilution, not chemical change. Persistent toxicity in older OSPW suggests other organic compounds require active treatment for effective remediation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Chemistry
Background:
- Oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) contains persistent organic pollutants from bitumen extraction.
- Aging OSPW in end-pit lakes and Base Mine Lake (BML) is a large-scale remediation strategy.
- Understanding the long-term effectiveness of OSPW aging is crucial for environmental management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of OSPW aging in BML over the first five years.
- To assess the chemical profile and toxicological impact of aged OSPW.
- To identify factors contributing to persistent toxicity in aged OSPW.
Main Methods:
- Real-time cell analysis for cytotoxicity.
- Yeast estrogenic and androgenic screens (YES/YAS) for endocrine disruption.
- Ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry for chemical profiling.
- Analysis of OSPW aged for varying durations in field conditions.
Main Results:
- Cytotoxicity per volume decreased with OSPW aging in BML, attributed to dilution.
- Toxic potency per mass of extract and chemical profiles remained consistent.
- Persistent endocrine antagonism and cytotoxicity were observed in OSPW aged over 20 years.
- Non-acidic organic compounds were enriched in older OSPW, correlating with toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Dilution, not chemical degradation, primarily reduces OSPW toxicity in BML during initial aging.
- Aged OSPW can retain significant toxicity, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems.
- Active water treatment methods may be necessary to accelerate OSPW detoxification and prevent legacy contamination.
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