Assessing the Effectiveness of Stable Isotope Approaches for Tracing the Fate of N and S Emissions from Oilsand Operations in Surrounding Terrestrial and Aquatic Evironments

人们越来越关注艾伯塔省油砂行业的环境影响，包括目前正在运营的所有石油和项目排放的N和S对周围陆地和水环境的累积影响。对这一影响的量化评估将得益于区分自然和人为N和S对环境的贡献的能力。该项目将测定N和S化合物在(A)工业排放、(B)大气沉降和(C)各种环境受体中的稳定同位素组成，包括地衣、植物树叶、土壤和地表水，这些环境受体来自麦克默里堡周围阿萨巴斯卡油砂地区距离主要排放源不同距离的许多地点。所获得的结果将揭示从油砂作业中排放的N和S化合物的稳定同位素比率在多大程度上可以与化学分析相结合，来追踪周围陆地和水环境中工业排放的去向。该项目将为评估阿萨巴斯卡油砂地区工业N和S排放的环境足迹做出重大创新贡献，并制定长期监测N和S排放的战略。这将有助于向加拿大人和世界各地的消费者表明，艾伯塔省东北部阿萨巴斯卡油砂地区的工业运营商认真地以科学可测试的方式评估其N和S排放的环境影响，从而表明他们对环境管理的承诺。因此，该项目将对艾伯塔省蕴藏在阿萨巴斯卡油砂中的巨大能源储量的可持续开发做出重要贡献，同时为维护健康的环境做出贡献。艾伯塔省油砂行业环境记录的改善将使所有加拿大人受益，因为它在保护环境的同时确保了可持续的能源供应。

There are increasing concerns regarding the environmental impact of Alberta's oilsands industry, including the cumulative impact of the N and S emissions from all currently operational oilsand projects on the surrounding terrestrial and aquatic environment. A quantifiable assessment of this impact would benefit from the ability to differentiate between natural and anthropogenic N and S contributions to the environment. This project will determine the stable isotope compositions of N and S compounds in (a) industrial emissions, (b) atmospheric deposition, and (c) various environmental receptors including lichens, plant foliage, soils and surface water obtained from numerous sites located at various distances from the major emission sources in the Athabasca oilsands region around Fort McMurray. The obtained results will reveal to which extent stable isotope ratios of N and S compounds emitted from the oilsands operations can be used, in concert with chemical analyses, to trace the fate of industrial emissions in the surrounding terrestrial and aquatic environment. The project will make a major innovative contribution to assessing the environmental footprint of industrial N and S emission from the Athabasca oilsands region and devise strategies for long-term monitoring of N and S emissions. This will help to demonstrate to Canadians and consumers world-wide that industrial operators in the Athabasca oilsands region of northeastern Alberta are serious about assessing the environmental impact of their N and S emissions in a scientifically testable manner thereby demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship. Therefore, this project will make an essential contribution to a sustainable exploitation of Alberta's vast energy reserves locked up in the Athabasca oilsands, while making a contribution towards maintaining a healthy environment. An improved environmental record of Alberta's oilsands industry will benefit all Canadians by ensuring sustainable energy supplies while protecting the environment.