Disrupted development in fathead minnow embryos exposed to wetland waters from the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada

This study was conducted to assess the aquatic toxicity of natural wetlands in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) of northern Alberta, Canada. Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) embryos were exposed to water sampled from fifteen (15) naturally occurring wetlands sites that were collected in the fall of 2018. Assessed endpoints from this study included: time-to-hatch, deformities, growth, survival, and embryonic heart rate. Water quality parameters were also collected. The assessment of toxicity and chemicals present in natural wetlands provides background data for future studies and for the design of restorations wetlands for oil sands mining-disturbed landscapes.

All data, as well as specifications on each constructed wetland, are a part subject of a publication containing method details, full QA/QC, interpretation and conclusions. Citation: Parrott, J. L., Schock, D. M., Vander Meulen, I. J., Mundy, L., Pauli, B., Peru, K., & Headley, J. V. (2024). Disrupted development in fathead minnow embryos exposed to wetland waters from the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada. The Science of the total environment, 957, 177407. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177407

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Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated April 17, 2026, 19:48 (UTC)
Created April 17, 2026, 19:48 (UTC)
contact_email DRCADonneesOuvertes-ACRDOpenData@ec.gc.ca
contact_person {}
criticality_level []
data_dictionary []
geographic_scope ["0"]
open_canada_collection primary
open_canada_date_published 2024-11-05 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords {"en": ["Oil sands", "Wetlands", "Bioassay", "Environment", "naphthenic acids (NAs)", "naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs)", "polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)", "fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)", "embryo", "hatch success", "deformities", "Program of Energy Research and Development (PERD)"], "fr": ["Sables bitumineux", "Zone humide", "Épreuve biologique", "Environnement", "acides naphténique", "fraction d’acides naphténiques", "hydrocarbure aromatique polycyclique (HAP)", "tête-de-boule (Pimephales promelas)", "embryon", "succès de l'éclosion", "malformations", "Programme de recherche et développement énergétiques (PRDE)"]}
open_canada_subject ["nature_and_environment"]
sensitivity_level unrestricted
title_fr Perturbation du développement des embryons de tête-de-boule exposés aux eaux des milieux humides de la région des sables bitumineux de l'Athabasca, Alberta, Canada
update_frequency as_needed