Through heavy salting of suburban roads, chloride road salts can harm freshwater ecosystems, drinking water, and wildlife, with possible consequences and alternative solutions both within the realm of possibility.
According to science teacher Joshua Lawrence, while he doesn’t know the long-term effects of road salts on health, chloride ions can infiltrate the drinking water supply through general road runoff.
“It kind of stinks as something really hard to avoid,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence said there are possible alternatives and weighed the pros and cons of each alternative.
“But I do know, some areas have been mixing beet juice or agricultural by-products in with their salt, which can actually help give nutrients to the plants,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence said that with the agricultural products, however, “you’re going to have too many nutrients in the water, and you’re going to have alge bloom.”
With the introduction of algae bloom into the water, other problems can arise for the organisms living there.
“As the algae grows, it can start decomposing and taking up oxygen,” Lawrence said. “The organisms and the fish inside the water will pretty much suffocate.”
Another alternative option includes laying sand and grit mixtures on the roads in order to create traction, which is more eco-fiendly.
“Sometimes it’s too cold for salt when you get below 50 degrees, salt might not even work,” Lawrence said. “So making traction on top of ice with sand and gravel might be a better way, a better route.”
While sand and gravel alternatives are environmentally-friendly, they can cause issues as they do not melt with snow and are ineffective with ice.
“But then someone’s going to have to come in and clean it up after,” Lawrence said, “and it’ll take more time to clean and get the roads clear.”
According to Lawrence, an environmental science class is a great way to learn about environmental issues.
Although taking action might not bring sudden change, there are always ways to get involved and raise awareness of environmental issues, according to Lawrence.
“We talk about waste and solutions to fix the problems we have,” Lawrence says. “America is not too big on being proactive, we’re reactive.”
Lawrence said how it’s important to get involved locally as well, and it starts by “just doing the little things that you don’t think matter.”
According to Pennridge Animal Hospital veterinarian Beth Mahaffey, wildlife is in more danger from the effects of road salt runoff, and the risk posed to wildlife can be overlooked by the focus on the health of pets and people first.
“The salt is running off into streams and creeks,” Maheffey said, “and the wildlife is drinking out of those streams and creeks.”
Maheffey said that the salty water could impact their “ability to live or breed, as well as their ecosystems.”
Mahaffey said that people can do things in their community to get involved and raise awareness about the impact of road salts.
“On a broader scale, people can be involved in petitioning their township,” Mahaffey said.
The environmental impact of road salts is also harmful for lawns and gardens.
“Road salt is harmful to coniferous, deciduous plants and turf grass,” Ace’s horticulturist Howard Wood said. “If the salting is heavy, the lawn will be killed.”
Wood said the way to leech these salts from soil is by “applying a lot of water.”