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Road Salt is a Danger to the Environment
Road Salt is a Danger to the Environment
by Sophia B.
Road salt is an efficient way to clear the roads in winter, but the consequences it has on the environment and even on us should make us reconsider its usage. For one, road salt can prove to be lethal to aquatic ecosystems. Two, it harms the environment around the road. Three, it corrodes our vehicles and structures and requires too much money to repair the damage.
When winter passes, road salt does not simply disappear. A large amount makes its way into bodies of freshwater, raising the sodium concentration and damaging the fragile ecosystem. Invasive species find it easier to thrive in the brackish waters while native species suffer. A study taken by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, New York) showed that rainbow trout hatchlings born in waters of higher sodium levels were considerably smaller and scrawnier than those in waters with less sodium. The same institute made another study showing that zooplankton in affected areas has decreased in number and diversity as the salt concentration has increased. Zooplankton, being a primary food source for small fish, snails and other creatures, helps make the base of the food chain. When they suffer, all those above suffer too. And as though that were not enough, the salt directly affects these already suffering fish. Slowly the ecosystem will fade in biodiversity and health until it cannot be considered an ecosystem anymore, meanwhile invasive species take over the place of others.
Click the Pic to learn about the downsides of road salt
Aquatic ecosystems are not the only ones to suffer from this menace, the habitat surrounding the roads is also impacted. Salt is absorbed by roadside plants, and the extra sodium might even help invasive and toxic species spread. The extra sodium in plants may affect those who feed on them as well. For example, caterpillars who grow up eating these salty plants may be altered slightly when they emerge as butterflies. Some studies show a pattern: the females gain larger eyes, and males have brawnier flight muscles. This doesn’t seem bad, considering it would raise their chances of survival. But an even higher amount of sodium would prove to be lethal rather than beneficial. What’s more, animals are drawn to the roadsides to lick up all the salt, increasing roadkill rates considerably. Moose and deer hit by traffic could easily claim human lives too, and block the road for long amounts of time.
Streets, vehicles and structures are also subjected to harm from road salt. Salt accelerates the rusting of cars, trucks and other vehicles, corrodes metal structures such as bridges, concrete, even the foundations of buildings. Salt corrosion is a leading cause of car failure during the winter and the collapse of bridges. The Algo Centre Mall collapse (Ontario) in 2012, killing two people, was proven to be partly caused by salt corroding the steel supports. Not only is the damage it causes dangerous, but expensive. “Way back in 1975, Transport Canada estimated that de-icing salts were causing $200 per car, per year, the equivalent of $854 in 2017” (Tristin Hopper, Citizen). An estimate suggested that road salt damage would cost around $4.8 billion per year. This is money that shouldn’t need to be spent repairing the damage, not to mention all the money spent buying the salt in the first place.
Click the Pic to learn about what happens to the salt dumped on the roads
In conclusion, road salt harms aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, attracts animals to roadsides (endangering both human and animal lives), and is sucked up by plants and therefore affects those who eat them. Besides, it damages the roads we put it on, corrodes our vehicles and anything that rusts, and it costs an incredible amount of money to repair the damage. Though proving to be very efficient when it comes to de-icing roads, we need to realize that the cons outweigh the pros and ask ourselves if this is the solution we should be applying every winter.
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