@proceedings {54084,
	title = {The use of stable isotopes to examine oil sands-derived polycyclic aromatic compounds and utilization by primary consumers},
	year = {2008},
	note = {IN: Proceedings of the 34th Annual Aquatic Toxicity Workshop September 30 - October 3, 2007. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Kidd K.A. R.A. Jarvis K. Haya K. Doe and L.E. Burridge (Eds.). Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences No. 2793. pp. 71-72.},
	month = {10/2007 },
	pages = {2 pages },
	publisher = {Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences No. 2793},
	abstract = {The use of mature fine tailings (MFT) at oil sand reclamation sites leaves benthic invertebrates exposed to elevated levels of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs). In this laboratory study, stable isotope analyses were used as a tool to trace oil sand carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sources in microbes and primary consumers. The objective was to better understand the importance of PAC derived carbon as an energy source in oil sands aquatic reclamation. Blackworms (Lumbriculus variegates) were raised for 6 weeks on either whole sediment from different oil sands reclamation wetlands containing elevated levels of PACs, or on microbes cultured on oil sands derived PAC extracts. Within 4 weeks of exposure, the nitrogen isotope signatures of L. variegates were found to be similar to that of the sediment, while the carbon isotope signatures of L. variegates were approximately 2 per cent 13C enriched relative to the sediment. It was suggested that tracing stable nitrogen isotopes may be a useful tool for determining exposure of aquatic organisms to oil sands processed-material through channels such as groundwater pollution},
	keywords = {analytical methodology, hydrocarbon, invertebrates, laboratory, nitrogen, NOx, PAH, sediment, VOC},
	author = {Farwell, A. and Vukosavljevic, D. and Butler, B. and Dixon, D. G.}
}
