Toxic metals in oil sands: review of human health implications, environmental impact, and potential remediation using me
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REVIEW PAPER
Toxic metals in oil sands: review of human health implications, environmental impact, and potential remediation using membrane-based approach Odunayo T. Ore1 1 2 3
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Adedapo O. Adeola2,3
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220005, Nigeria Department of Chemical Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Hatfield, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
Received: 12 August 2020 / Revised: 8 October 2020 / Accepted: 8 October 2020 The Joint Center on Global Change and Earth System Science of the University of Maryland and Beijing Normal University 2020
Abstract The upsurge in energy needs is the primary influencing factor for the shift of attention from conventional hydrocarbon resources to unconventional resources. In the process of exploiting unconventional oil resources such as oil sands, priority pollutants such as heavy metals are released into the environment. Thus, there are health and environmental risks associated with exploration and mining practices. This study seeks to present an overview of the health and environmental effects of these toxic metals in oil sands. Predominantly, the sources of these pollutants in oil sands are biogenic processes and weathering of source rocks. The toxicity of metals is dependent upon the nature of the metals as well as its affinity to bond with the silicate matrix. The consumption of plants and water from rivers, lakes, and streams with proximity to oil sand deposits could pose severe health risks to consumers, as significant amounts of Hg and other toxic metals are leached during oil recovery and other developmental processes. This review pointed to the use of membrane-based processes and other integrated approaches as vital remediation strategies employed for the restoration of resources to their pristine state and metal recovery. It is recommended that exploration practices and technologies should be improved towards the reduction of on-site metal pollution or off-site metallic contamination during refining or waste management. Keywords Environment Health risk Oil sand Remediation Toxic metal
& Odunayo T. Ore [email protected]
1 Introduction In the last 2 decades, researchers have focused on seeking out unconventional oil deposits as an alternative to the dwindling oil resources to satisfy both current and future energy needs. The attention of geologists, geophysicists, petroleum engineers, and petroleum chemists is shifting to unconventional oil resources such as oil shale, tight oil, and oil sands (Al-Marshed et al. 2015; Wang et al. 2014; Zhang et al. 2012). Numerous deposits of oil sand are in several places around the world; however, the biggest oil sand deposits are in Canada, Venezuela, Kazakhstan, and Russia, larger than those discovered in other parts of the world combined. In Canada, the major oil sand deposits are the Peace River oil sand, the Cold Lake oil sand, and
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