Innovation Anthology #468:
Among the many scientists at the recent CONRAD symposium on oil sands reclamation was Dr. Michael van den Heuvel.
He holds a Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Environments and is with the Canadian Rivers Institute based at the University of Prince Edward Island.
Dr. van den Heuvel is trying to determine at what levels compounds from oil sands production become toxic to fish. Some of these include napthenic acids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and salts.
DR. MICHAEL VAN DEN HEUVEL: Certainly one of the effects we saw quite accidentally in yellow perch in particular was at higher levels of oil sands related compounds there was opportunistic disease. That is, viruses and bacteria which are normally there all the time and are harmless, appear to be causing infection in the animals. So we’ve hypothesized there may be a reduction in the immune competency of the organisms which results in these opportunistic pathogens to effect the organisms.
After working with fish in process ponds, Dr. van den Heuvel will follow now up with lab tests.
The results of studies will help improve the design of end pit lakes and reclamation of the watersheds disturbed by oil sands production.
Thanks today to SYNCRUDE
FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY
I’M CHERYL CROUCHER
Guest
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Sponsor
Syncrude
Program Date: 2012-03-27