Trace metals in the dissolved fraction (<0.45μm) of the lower Athabasca River: Analytical challenges and environmental implications
Water samples were collected on the Athabasca River (AR), upstream and downstream from bitumen mines and upgrading facilities, to identify changes in water quality due to industrial activities in this region of northern Alberta, Canada. Starting upstream of Fort McMurray and proceeding downstream ca...
Published in: | Science of The Total Environment |
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/11369/346772 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.012 |
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ftunivfoggia:oai:fair.unifg.it:11369/346772 2024-04-14T08:08:49+00:00 Trace metals in the dissolved fraction (<0.45μm) of the lower Athabasca River: Analytical challenges and environmental implications SHOTYK, W. BICALHO, B. CUSS, C. W. DONNER, M. W. GRANT WEAVER, I. HAAS NEILL, S. JAVED, M. B. KRACHLER, M. NOERNBERG, T. PELLETIER, R. ZACCONE, CLAUDIO Shotyk, W. Bicalho, B. Cuss, C. W. Donner, M. W. GRANT WEAVER, I. HAAS NEILL, S. Javed, M. B. Krachler, M. Noernberg, T. Pelletier, R. Zaccone, Claudio 2017 STAMPA http://hdl.handle.net/11369/346772 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.012 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/27989481 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:000395353600065 volume:580 firstpage:660 lastpage:669 numberofpages:10 journal:SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT http://hdl.handle.net/11369/346772 doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.012 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/scopus/2-s2.0-85008169610 www.elsevier.com/locate/scitotenv Athabasca River Bituminous sand Dissolved trace metal Tailings pond Ultraclean lab method Upgrader Environmental Engineering Environmental Chemistry Waste Management and Disposal Pollution info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2017 ftunivfoggia https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.012 2024-03-21T17:50:33Z Water samples were collected on the Athabasca River (AR), upstream and downstream from bitumen mines and upgrading facilities, to identify changes in water quality due to industrial activities in this region of northern Alberta, Canada. Starting upstream of Fort McMurray and proceeding downstream ca. 100. km, waters were collected in duplicate at 13 locations on the main stem of the river, as well as 5 tributary streams, using ultraclean sampling protocols developed for polar snow and ice. To estimate potential bioaccessibility, trace elements of concern (Ag, Cd, Pb, Sb, Tl) were determined in the dissolved fraction (<. 0.45. μm) along with metals known for their enrichments in bitumen (V, Ni, Mo, Re) and those found mainly in ionic (Li, Sr) or colloidal forms (Al, Co, Cr, Fe, Ga, Mn, Th, Y). Analyses were performed in the metal-free, ultraclean SWAMP lab using quadrupole and sector-field ICP-MS. Concentrations of Ag, Cd, Pb, Sb and Tl were extremely low, not significantly more abundant downstream of industry and probably reflect "background" values. In contrast, V, Ni, Mo and Re concentrations were all significantly (p. <. 0.05) greater downstream of industry. However, chloride also increased downstream, due to natural inputs of saline groundwaters and it is unclear whether the increases in V, Ni, Mo and Re are due to natural or anthropogenic inputs to the river. Although it had been claimed that the industrial development of the Athabasca Bituminous Sands (ABS) is a significant source of Ag, Cd, Pb, Sb and Tl to the river, our study failed to find any evidence to support this. Here we provide a first, robust (accurate and precise) description of baseline values for these trace elements in the AR, and suggest that V, Ni, Mo and Re are more valuable tracers for environmental monitoring and source assessment. Article in Journal/Newspaper Athabasca River Fort McMurray Università degli Studi di Foggia: CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System Athabasca River Canada Fort McMurray Science of The Total Environment 580 660 669 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Università degli Studi di Foggia: CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System |
op_collection_id |
ftunivfoggia |
language |
English |
topic |
Athabasca River Bituminous sand Dissolved trace metal Tailings pond Ultraclean lab method Upgrader Environmental Engineering Environmental Chemistry Waste Management and Disposal Pollution |
spellingShingle |
Athabasca River Bituminous sand Dissolved trace metal Tailings pond Ultraclean lab method Upgrader Environmental Engineering Environmental Chemistry Waste Management and Disposal Pollution SHOTYK, W. BICALHO, B. CUSS, C. W. DONNER, M. W. GRANT WEAVER, I. HAAS NEILL, S. JAVED, M. B. KRACHLER, M. NOERNBERG, T. PELLETIER, R. ZACCONE, CLAUDIO Trace metals in the dissolved fraction (<0.45μm) of the lower Athabasca River: Analytical challenges and environmental implications |
topic_facet |
Athabasca River Bituminous sand Dissolved trace metal Tailings pond Ultraclean lab method Upgrader Environmental Engineering Environmental Chemistry Waste Management and Disposal Pollution |
description |
Water samples were collected on the Athabasca River (AR), upstream and downstream from bitumen mines and upgrading facilities, to identify changes in water quality due to industrial activities in this region of northern Alberta, Canada. Starting upstream of Fort McMurray and proceeding downstream ca. 100. km, waters were collected in duplicate at 13 locations on the main stem of the river, as well as 5 tributary streams, using ultraclean sampling protocols developed for polar snow and ice. To estimate potential bioaccessibility, trace elements of concern (Ag, Cd, Pb, Sb, Tl) were determined in the dissolved fraction (<. 0.45. μm) along with metals known for their enrichments in bitumen (V, Ni, Mo, Re) and those found mainly in ionic (Li, Sr) or colloidal forms (Al, Co, Cr, Fe, Ga, Mn, Th, Y). Analyses were performed in the metal-free, ultraclean SWAMP lab using quadrupole and sector-field ICP-MS. Concentrations of Ag, Cd, Pb, Sb and Tl were extremely low, not significantly more abundant downstream of industry and probably reflect "background" values. In contrast, V, Ni, Mo and Re concentrations were all significantly (p. <. 0.05) greater downstream of industry. However, chloride also increased downstream, due to natural inputs of saline groundwaters and it is unclear whether the increases in V, Ni, Mo and Re are due to natural or anthropogenic inputs to the river. Although it had been claimed that the industrial development of the Athabasca Bituminous Sands (ABS) is a significant source of Ag, Cd, Pb, Sb and Tl to the river, our study failed to find any evidence to support this. Here we provide a first, robust (accurate and precise) description of baseline values for these trace elements in the AR, and suggest that V, Ni, Mo and Re are more valuable tracers for environmental monitoring and source assessment. |
author2 |
Shotyk, W. Bicalho, B. Cuss, C. W. Donner, M. W. GRANT WEAVER, I. HAAS NEILL, S. Javed, M. B. Krachler, M. Noernberg, T. Pelletier, R. Zaccone, Claudio |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
SHOTYK, W. BICALHO, B. CUSS, C. W. DONNER, M. W. GRANT WEAVER, I. HAAS NEILL, S. JAVED, M. B. KRACHLER, M. NOERNBERG, T. PELLETIER, R. ZACCONE, CLAUDIO |
author_facet |
SHOTYK, W. BICALHO, B. CUSS, C. W. DONNER, M. W. GRANT WEAVER, I. HAAS NEILL, S. JAVED, M. B. KRACHLER, M. NOERNBERG, T. PELLETIER, R. ZACCONE, CLAUDIO |
author_sort |
SHOTYK, W. |
title |
Trace metals in the dissolved fraction (<0.45μm) of the lower Athabasca River: Analytical challenges and environmental implications |
title_short |
Trace metals in the dissolved fraction (<0.45μm) of the lower Athabasca River: Analytical challenges and environmental implications |
title_full |
Trace metals in the dissolved fraction (<0.45μm) of the lower Athabasca River: Analytical challenges and environmental implications |
title_fullStr |
Trace metals in the dissolved fraction (<0.45μm) of the lower Athabasca River: Analytical challenges and environmental implications |
title_full_unstemmed |
Trace metals in the dissolved fraction (<0.45μm) of the lower Athabasca River: Analytical challenges and environmental implications |
title_sort |
trace metals in the dissolved fraction (<0.45μm) of the lower athabasca river: analytical challenges and environmental implications |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/11369/346772 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.012 |
geographic |
Athabasca River Canada Fort McMurray |
geographic_facet |
Athabasca River Canada Fort McMurray |
genre |
Athabasca River Fort McMurray |
genre_facet |
Athabasca River Fort McMurray |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/27989481 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:000395353600065 volume:580 firstpage:660 lastpage:669 numberofpages:10 journal:SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT http://hdl.handle.net/11369/346772 doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.012 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/scopus/2-s2.0-85008169610 www.elsevier.com/locate/scitotenv |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.012 |
container_title |
Science of The Total Environment |
container_volume |
580 |
container_start_page |
660 |
op_container_end_page |
669 |
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1796306278705790976 |