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The Hazards of Road Salt

EACH WINTER, MANY STATES USE SALT TO MELT SNOW AND ICE OFF THEIR ROADS.  BUT THAT SALT TAKES A TOLL. WE’LL TELL YOU WHERE IT ALL GOES ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE. 

THE SALT USED TO CLEAR WINTER ROADS IS SPRAYED ONTO NEARBY TREES BY CAR TIRES, AND RUNS OFF INTO SOIL AND STREAMS. 

TOM LANGEN, A BIOLOGIST AT CLARKSON UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK, SAYS SODIUM CHLORIDE IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF ROAD SALT. IT CAUSES TISSUE DAMAGE IN PLANTS, RUINS SOIL QUALITY, AND IS BECOMING A HEALTH CONCERN AS IT SEEPS INTO GROUNDWATER AND CONTAMINATES WELLS.

LANGEN: "IT IS A CHRONIC AND GROWING PROBLEM. OVER THE LAST FIFTY YEARS, CHLORIDE LEVELS HAVE BEEN INCREASING AND ARE CONTINUING TO INCREASE."

LANGEN SAYS DRIVER SAFETY MUST COME FIRST, SO WE’RE STUCK WITH SALT FOR NOW. BUT SLOWING DOWN ON SALT-COVERED HIGHWAYS, AND KEEPING OUR SALT SUPPLIES WELL COVERED WILL HELP SLOW THE SPREAD.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Read more from Stormwater about the environmental impacts of road salt in the New York City Watershed.

Learn “What You Should Know About Safe Winter Roads and the Environment” from the EPA.