Canadian tar sands pollution is up to 6,300% higher than reported, study finds

The Canadian tar sands are a massive site of oil extraction in Alberta.
Photograph: Ashley Cooper/Alamy

Toxic emissions from the Canadian tar sands – already one of the dirtiest fossil fuels – have been dramatically underestimated, according to a study.

Research published in the journal Science found that air pollution from the vast Athabasca oil sands in Canada exceed industry-reported emissions across the studied facilities by a staggering 1,900% to over 6,300%.