Living near the oil sands in Alberta is dangerous?

Question

I live near Fort McMurray and there's alot of construction because of the oil sands in alberta and now people are saying the oil industry brought rare cancers and diseases?

What if you work for the oil industry?

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/03/10/oilsands-chipewyan060310.html

Answer 1

If you work for the oil and gas industry you are provided with PPE (personal protective equipment).  The same can't be said for the people who live and work nearby.  The increase in cancers is alarming but there is no data regarding the actual cause.  It is too early to tell if there is a direct link.

Answer 2

Sadly, exposure to chemicals, even at very low levels over time, has a cumulative effect; thus, I am not surprised to hear that there are more medical incidents in a heavily industrial area.

Of course, as individual, we also voluntary expose ourselves to chemicals, such as smoking.  In fact, the risk of living near Fort McMurray probably pale in comparison to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.

So, as we know there is no free lunch, the workers or the local communities pay a price to refine the oil (i.e. shorten expected life span).  The real question is - Is that price justified based on overall society good?