EDMONTON — New research suggests that heavy metals released from the oilsands aren't finding their way into nearby rivers.
Preliminary findings from a new, state-of-the-art analytical lab at the University of Alberta say bottled water has higher levels of lead than the Athabasca River.
Bill Shotyk (SHAH'-tihk) says previous studies that found lead, mercury and other toxins in snow around oilsands mines may have been capturing contaminants found on dust particles.
He says those particles settle into river silts and aren't a threat to plants and animals.
The new lab is also being used to examine river water for other dissolved toxins that have been shown to be leaching into groundwater from tailings ponds.
