Before we grab our weapons and head north, in pursuit of initiating a reckless conflict with our peaceful French-speaking neighbors, we must first determine what exactly are we fighting for. A research team at Yale University's Engineering and Chemical Environment Department has determined Canada to be the leading sources of North America’s air pollution. I'm aware that you may not seem very thrilled about this discovery, but the United States is not so innocent in comparison to Canada when it comes to air pollution. The United States has had its fair contribution to North America's air pollution epidemic. Thus, "Americas decrease the adrenaline, and put down the weapons.”
The Yale research team have collaborated with researchers in Canada and have diagnosed the source of this air pollution. The primary source of Canada's oil production has been identified as the main source of pollution. Oil sands are mostly found in Venezuela, USA, Russia, and Canada. The northeastern regions of Canada around Alberta have been known to pertain high reserves of oil sands. These oil sands are a mixture of sand, water, Bitumen oil and clay. This relatively thick sand is used to extract Bitumen oil. Petroleum’s thick and dense form is most commonly referred to as Bitumen. Bitumen extraction is relatively new, and efficient techniques for extracting this viscous solution have yet to be developed.
The crude form of Bitumen is extremely difficult to separate from the sand due to its thickness, It is not able to flow or be pumped out of the sand. Bitumen is rock solid at temperatures below 50 degrees fahrenheit and relatively viscous at room temperature. Thus, the crude must either be diluted or heated for successful extraction. Relatively high levels of secondary organic particles are emitted into the air during extraction. These aerosols particles pose very high health risks to humans and the environment.
The researchers at Yale have additionally determined the level of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) have rapidly increased. SOA have recently become significantly higher in air concentration in comparison to the sum of various other air polluting agents. This is a major crisis. If the extraction of this viscous petroleum oil does not decrease, the North American continent will soon become the most polluted continent in the word, and people inhabiting it will suffer from the various health risks pertaining to SOA exposure.
The release of SOA does not solely affect human health, it has also been proven to affect the climate, due to its ability to reflect solar radiation. Since Bitumen extraction is relatively new and the city of Alberta has a low population, there has not been any reported health illnesses pertaining to SOA; therefore, scientists have not yet determined the health hazards of SOA.
How do we as Americans stop the spread of SOA before it because a major health and environmental health hazard? Well, in my opinion, we must find a way to persuade the Canadian government to determine other alternatives of oil extraction without incorporating violence because we love our peaceful Canadian neighbors. This will lead to more quantitative studies of oil sand. Before we can identify the health risks of SOA and terminate petroleum extraction, Canada will continue to pollute our air.
Ps: If America had this large reserve of oil sand, we would be doing the same.
References:
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/161116/20160527/...
http://www.worldenergy.org/wec-geis/publications/d...
http://www.environment.alberta.ca/documents/Oil_Sa...
