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The Athabasca River basin, located in Alberta, Canada, covers 157, 000 km2 and holds significant cultural and economic importance. Recent research assessed changes in several water quality and quantity parameters that have changed both spatially (along the river continuum) and temporally (pre-development and present day) in the Athabasca River Basin. In particular, parameters such as salinity and dissolved sulphate have changed significantly across the Athabasca River mainstem over the past five decades. Further laboratory testing has linked concentrations of these parameters to changes in fathead minnow reproduction. Research is required to determine whether these changes observed in the laboratory can be applied to actual in-river conditions. The objectives of the present study were to twofold: assess changes in fathead minnow response metrics (i.e., condition, liver and gonad size, egg production, and gill histology) associated with increasing concentrations of salinity and dissolved sulphate and determine whether sublethal effect thresholds established in laboratory experiments correspond to actual in-river concentrations using water from the mouth and headwaters of the Athabasca River. Three dose−response experiments (NaCl, SO4, and water sampled from the mouth of the Athabasca River) were conducted at Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. Significant increases in mean eggs per female per day occurred at the 50% treatment for the mouth experiment and thresholds previously developed in the laboratory were verified. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2013;32:662-672. © 2012 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the ability of mineral soil and fibric peat from acid-sensitive western boreal catchments in Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Alberta to adsorb and release sulfate (SO42-). It says that five replicate mineral soils were gathered from A- and B-horizon soil at plots near the upland hillslope in each catchment while fibric peat was taken from a depth of 10 to 30 centimeters below the surface of the peat. It also states that laboratory experiments of the sample involve the determination of moisture content and pH. Results reveal that SO42- adsorption presents a limited reaction to elevated SO42- concentrations due to low iron and aluminum oxide content.