Amphibian and Wetland Health Contaminants and Toxicology, Oil Sands Region

The health of individual amphibians, amphibian populations, and their wetland habitats are monitored in the oil sands region and at reference locations. Contaminants assessments are done at all sites. Amphibians developing near oil sands activities may be exposed to concentrations of oil sands-related contaminants, through air emissions as well as water contamination. The focus of field investigations is to evaluate the health of wild amphibian populations at varying distances from oil sands operations. Wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) populations are being studied in Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories in order to examine the relationship of proximity to oil sands activities and to prevalence of infectious diseases, malformation rates, endocrine and stress responses, genotoxicity, and concentrations of heavy metals, naphthenic acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated April 17, 2026, 20:22 (UTC)
Created April 17, 2026, 20:22 (UTC)
contact_email bruce.pauli@canada.ca
contact_person {"en": "Government of Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada,1-800-668-6767,ec.enviroinfo.ec@canada.ca", "fr": "Gouvernement du Canada; Environnement et Changement climatique Canada,ec.enviroinfo.ec@canada.ca"}
criticality_level []
data_dictionary ["biota", "environment", "health"]
geographic_scope []
open_canada_collection fgp
open_canada_date_published 2014-10-24 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords {"en": ["oil sands; monitoring; biodiversity; contaminants; amphibians", "Observation/Measurement", "Oil sands", "Game (Wildlife)", "Nature and Biodiversity - Contaminants", "Protect Species Well-Being", "Assess Status of Species", "Prairie - Alberta (AB)", "Science and Technology Branch", "Wildlife and Landscape Science", "1.3.2. Ecosystem Assessment and Approaches", "Unclassified"], "fr": ["sables bitumineux; surveillance; biodiversité; contaminants; amphibiens", "Observation et mesures", "Sables bitumineux", "Gibier", "Nature et biodiversité - contaminants", "Protéger le bien-être des espèces", "Évaluer l'état des espèces", "Prairies - Alberta (AB)", "Direction générale des sciences et de la technologie", "Sciences de la faune et du paysage", "1.3.2 Évaluation et approches axées sur les écosystèmes", "Non Classifié"]}
open_canada_subject ["health_and_safety", "nature_and_environment", "science_and_technology"]
sensitivity_level unrestricted
title_fr Santé des amphibiens et des zones humides contaminants et toxicologie, région des sables bitumineux
update_frequency as_needed