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A new study in the journal Nature finds that Alberta’s oilsands are one of the largest sources of organic aerosol air pollution in North America.

Data from airborne measurements over the bitumen-producing region in August 2013 found that oilsands production generates at least 45 to 84 tonnes per day of the tiny particulate matter — comparable to mega-cities such as Paris and Mexico City.

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The study, whose lead authors are Environment Canada scientists, says secondary organic aerosol production should be taken into consideration when assessing the environmental impact of current and planned oilsands development.

And it suggests heavy-oil extraction projects around the globe are likely large sources of this type of air pollution.

“The oilsands on its own as a global source is probably not very significant,” research scientist John Liggio of Environment Canada said in an interview Wednesday.