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Articles on Road salt

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A front-end loader dumps road salt into a truck in Chelsea, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

‘Forever contaminant’ road salts pose an icy dilemma: Do we protect drivers or our fresh water?

Increasing awareness of the dangers ‘forever chemical’ road salts pose to our fresh water systems highlights the urgent importance of finding new approaches to de-icing our roads.
Winter road salting is a common de-icing technique used to ensure public safety during icy winters. However, it is crucial to find sustainable and environment-friendly alternatives to road salt. (Shutterstock)

Winter road salting has year-round consequences

Salty water seeps into our soils and groundwater through surface runoff and storm-water pipes. The long-term storage of salt in the environment impacts aquatic life, infrastructure and drinking water.

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