![Picture](/uploads/3/0/6/2/30628243/1402758383.jpg)
Physical Damage
The tar sands produce a lot of damage to the physical environment. The main areas affected are, the climate, air, water, land, and species.
Climate and Air
The carbon dioxide released into the air from the mining procedure, cause severe climate change. In fact, the tar sands emits 3 to 4 times more climate warming greenhouse gas than conventional crude oil. Many toxic chemicals released into the atmosphere, polluting water, harming life, and contributing to acid rain. The main concern alarming environmentalists is that the air pollution levels are increasing rapidly.
Water and Spills
The risk for spills and leaks and the amount of fresh water used is threatening to our future society. The tar sands use such immense amounts of fresh water and only 5% is returned to the environment. The toxic tailings held in the sand pits leak millions upon millions of liters each day. Oil from the tar sands pipelines is much more toxic and harder to clean up than conventional crude oil. Since 1975 there have been 28, 666 recorded oil spills. A single tanker accident would cause billions in damage. Such hazards with the oil pipeline going down to the United States is not at all worth it.
Land and Species
To keep up with the increasing oil demand, they need to expand the oil sands, where trees once stood, and animals once lived. The expansion plans will clear an area the size of England. The Boreal Forest is sometimes considered as the "endangered forest." Millions of birds, fish,and caribou will be killed due to the rapid expansion of the tar sands. The federal and provincial laws are inadequate towards the wildlife.
The tar sands produce a lot of damage to the physical environment. The main areas affected are, the climate, air, water, land, and species.
Climate and Air
The carbon dioxide released into the air from the mining procedure, cause severe climate change. In fact, the tar sands emits 3 to 4 times more climate warming greenhouse gas than conventional crude oil. Many toxic chemicals released into the atmosphere, polluting water, harming life, and contributing to acid rain. The main concern alarming environmentalists is that the air pollution levels are increasing rapidly.
Water and Spills
The risk for spills and leaks and the amount of fresh water used is threatening to our future society. The tar sands use such immense amounts of fresh water and only 5% is returned to the environment. The toxic tailings held in the sand pits leak millions upon millions of liters each day. Oil from the tar sands pipelines is much more toxic and harder to clean up than conventional crude oil. Since 1975 there have been 28, 666 recorded oil spills. A single tanker accident would cause billions in damage. Such hazards with the oil pipeline going down to the United States is not at all worth it.
Land and Species
To keep up with the increasing oil demand, they need to expand the oil sands, where trees once stood, and animals once lived. The expansion plans will clear an area the size of England. The Boreal Forest is sometimes considered as the "endangered forest." Millions of birds, fish,and caribou will be killed due to the rapid expansion of the tar sands. The federal and provincial laws are inadequate towards the wildlife.