Final answer:
Oil sand extraction has significant environmental impacts, involving strip mining, large water usage leading to water pollution, higher carbon emissions, air pollution from refining, and risks associated with transportation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The environmental impact of oil sand/tar sand extraction is significant and multifaceted, affecting land, water, and air quality. The process involves strip mining which is incredibly destructive to landscapes and ecosystems. Large amounts of water are required for separation of oil from sand, resulting in polluted water that can harm aquatic life and contaminate groundwater. Furthermore, carbon emissions from oil sands are greater than those from conventional oil sources, exacerbating climate change. The refinement process generates air pollutants, including volatile organic hydrocarbons and toxic emissions like carcinogenic benzene. Lastly, transporting the extracted materials poses risks for spills and accidents, which can lead to environmental disasters, as seen with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.