Dissolved polycyclic aromatic compounds in Canada’s Athabasca River in relation to Oil Sands from 2013 through 2019

A distinct chemical fingerprint of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) linked to the Athabasca oil sands deposit (AOSD) was detected in the Athabasca River from 2013 to 2019, with concentrations peaking within the oil sands mineable area and downstream tributaries. The study identified elevated levels of alkylated PACs—particularly phenanthrenes/anthracenes and dibenzothiophenes—as markers of petrogenic sources, which were absent in reference sites outside AOSD influence. Hydrological factors, including river discharge and tributary inputs, modulated PAC concentrations, with dilution observed downstream of the Peace-Athabasca Delta. This seven-year dataset provides a critical baseline for assessing long-term water quality impacts in Wood Buffalo National Park and adjacent regions.

Lévesque, L. M. J., Roy, J., Glozier, N. E., Dirk, L., & Cooke, C. A. (2023). Dissolved polycyclic aromatic compounds in Canada’s Athabasca River in relation to Oil Sands from 2013 through 2019. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(11). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11846-x