Employing in vitro bioassays to assess OSPW treatment: Implications on predictive modelling of risks

The efficacy of treatment technologies to remove contaminants of concern from oil sands processed water (OSPW) will need to be assessed to demonstrate safe return into the environment. Bioassays are a potential screening tool that could be used to evaluate treatment efficacy. In partnership with Alberta Environment and Parks and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, we will apply a battery of high-throughput bioassays to evaluate current OSPW treatments and the potential mixture effects of the effluents in important cellular pathways. This work will support the future development of predictive models that link exposure to effects and will assist in establishing success indicators and thresholds for the safe release of treated OSPW.