User:Kkg123/sandbox
 | This is a user sandbox of Kkg123. A user sandbox is a subpage of the user's user page. It serves as a testing spot and page development space for the user and is not an encyclopedia article. |
Final Changes:
- Moved pollution causes into a separate table in order to better organize the information.
- The 'pollution' area now contains only the various types of pollution and not the specific causes (these are mentioned later).
- Added more content.
- Oil Sands was changed to Athabasca Oil Sands for more clarity.
- Fixed grammar and spelling.
- Updated the list of references.
The original article which I modified and improved on is located here.
Wikipedia Article: Final Draft
Environmental issues in Canada[edit]
There are a number of growing environmental issues in Canada that continue to affect Canada's abundant source of natural forests, natural resources and surrounding oceans.[1] These are pollution (air and water), climate change, and conservation.
Pollution[edit]
Water and Air Pollution are large problems in Canada and can be attributed to a number of causes: fuel burning, acid rain, contamination (ground water and arsenic) and the Athabasca Oil Sands in Alberta. [2] [3]
Air Pollution[edit]
Air pollution has become a large environmental issue in Canada due to the Athabasca Oil Sands and fuel emissions. The impacts of air pollution can affect respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Symptoms can range from minor breathing problems to lung and heart conditions. [3] Researchers have estimated that nearly 1/3 of Canadians are at risk from air pollution if they live close to highways or areas of high traffic.[4] In 2012, the government of Canada developed the New Air Quality Management System (AQMS) in order to improve the quality of health for Canadians. [4]
Water Pollution[edit]
Water pollution in Canada is an issue that is largely a result of contamination (groundwater and arsenic) and acid rain. Water pollution negatively impacts the quality of water resulting in damage to agriculture, livestock production, industrial and municipal activity and most importantly, human health. [2]
Pollution Causes[edit]
| Cause | Type of Pollution | Description | Negative Effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athabasca Oil Sands | Water, Air | The existence of the Athabasca Oil Sands, which require significant amounts of energy to harness, has increased the amount of air pollution in the air.[5][6] | The natural waters in Canada are constantly under strain from the oil sands which release a black substance called bitumen. Only 3/4 of the water is able to be retrieved from the tailings and the remainder is recycled and re-used resulting in a significant decrease in the quality and quantity of water available. [5][6] |
| Fuel Burning | Air | The burning of natural gas, coal, and fuel oils is a process by which major pollutants are produced. [7] | Canada is home to several large metropolitan areas where fuel burn continues to increase air pollutants. These air pollutants can result in smog, acid rain, climate change and other negative environmental and economic concerns which directly impact human health. [7] |
| Groundwater Contamination | Water | This refers to any unwanted substances being added to groundwater that are caused by human (anthropogenic) activity. This can include a composition of sewage and storm water along with material such as grit and debris, organic waste, chemicals and disease-causing pathogens. [8] [2] | These substances spread overtime making it extremely difficult to clean-up. Depending on the substance, (e.g. septic tank leaks, oil spills) the amount of damage can vary. As an example, aquifers that become severely contaminated can become unusable for decades. [8] |
| Arsenic Contamination | Water | This is the process by which high quantities of arsenic material become infused in water systems. In Canada, this largely attributed to the weathering of rocks. [9] | Arsenic is a highly toxic material when in high quantities and poses a great danger to human health and terrestrial organisms in general. [9] |
| Acid Rain | Water | Acid rain is the result of emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) that are transformed into pollutants which cause acid deposition. [10] | Acid deposition can cause significant damage to the natural environment. This includes lakes, rivers, forest soils, wildlife populations and also man-made structures such as buildings. [10] |
Climate change[edit]
Climate change in Canada is an eminent issue that is largely emphasized because of the quantity of greenhouses being emitted. The Earth's climate has been changing dramatically and researchers are investigating the possibility that Canada's forests could be impacted greatly by changing natural cycles. Canada's forests play a large role in maintaining the global carbon balance. [11]
Kyoto Protocol[edit]
The Kyoto Protocol was set-up to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the long term. Canada, on December 13, 2011, chose to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol. Canada's decision to pull out of the Kyoto protocol has caused significant controversy.[12]
Conservation[edit]
The Rainforest Action Network and indigenous groups have campaigned to protect the Boreal forest of Canada from logging and mining. In July 2008 the Ontario government announced plans to protect some of the area from all industrial activity.
Logging[edit]
Logging of old growth forest is continuing in Canada. The Ancient Forest Alliance is an environmental group in British Columbia, Canada, that is dedicated to stopping logging in endangered old growth forests, and ensuring the sustainable logging of second growth forests.
The forests of Clayoquot Sound are still being logged. There are ongoing protests over the logging and in 1993 it was the site of the largest act of peaceful civil disobedience in Canada.
Chemicals[edit]
The Aamjiwnaang First Nation community has expressed concern regarding its proximity to chemical plants in the area, as birth rates of their people have been documented by the American journal Environmental Health Perspectives as deviating from the normal ratio of close to 50% boys, 50% girls.[13] The ratio as found between 1999 and 2003 by the journal was roughly 33% boys, and 67% girls.[14] The First Nation is concerned that this abnormal trend is due to adverse effects of maternal and fetal exposure to the effluent and emissions of the nearby chemical plants. This is the first community in the world to have a birth rate of two girls to every boy.
Wild Life[edit]
Canada excels in maintaining biodiversity and existing wild life ecosystems through the conservation of its forests. [15] However, Canada's excess logging (mentioned above) can have an impact on the habitats of existing wild life.
Recent Statistics[edit]
- Canada ranked 15/17 industrialized countries on environmental performance by the Conference Board of Canada. [15]
- Canada ranked 9th out of 186 countries in per capita greenhouse gas emission. [16]
- Canada’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2012 were 699 megatonnes (Mt) of carbon dioxide compared to 591 megatonnes in 1990. [17]
Specific issues[edit]
- Cleanup of the Colomac Mine
- Acid mine drainage from the Northland Pyrite Mine
See also[edit]
- Athabasca oil sands#Environmental impacts
- Environment of Canada
- Environmental policy of the Harper government
- List of environmental issues
- Pollution in Canada
- RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values & Environmental Needs)
External Links[edit]
- Top 30 Environmental Concerns at Government of Canada
- Pollution and Waste Management at Government of Canada
- Great Lakes of Concern at Environment Canada
References[edit]
- ^ "Environmental Issues in Canada". Desmog Canada. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Water Quality Index". The Conference Board of Canada. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ^ a b "Impacts of Air Pollution". Environment Canada. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ a b Uberlacker, S. "10 million Canadians at risk from exposure to traffic pollution: researchers". CTV News. Retrieved March 15, 2015. Cite error: The named reference "Ubelacker" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b "Environmental Challenges". Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ a b "Water Management in Oil Sands". Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ a b "Fossil Fuels". Environment. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ^ a b "Groundwater Contamination". Environment Canada. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ^ a b "Occurrence of arsenic contamination in Canada: Sources, behavior and distribution Sands". ScienceDirect. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ a b "Acid Rain". Environment Canada. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ^ "Climate Change". Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ^ "Canada pulls out of Kyoto Protocol". CBC News. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- ^ C. A. Mackenzie, A. Lockridge, and M. Keith (2005). "Declining Sex Ratio in a First farting National Community". Environmental Health Perspectives. 113 (10): 1295–1298. doi:10.1289/ehp.8479. PMC 1281269. PMID 16203237.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Aamjiwnaang First Nations concerned about chemical exposure". CBC News. 2005-09-02. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ a b "Environment protection". The Conference Board of Canada. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ "WRI Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (registration required to access data)".
- ^ "National Greenhouse Gas Emissions".
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