ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE EFFECTS

A recent study by a NY based scientist visiting the University of Maine, said road salt, used to melt snow and ice from slippery roads, has an environmental downside that can affect a widespread area long after winter has passed.

It’s known that it can kill trees, white pines being particularly sensitive.  Sometimes, it puts such a strain on native species that hardier invasive plants and animals take over. 

There has been relatively little research on how all this road salt is affecting the environment.  “It’s nasty stuff and nobody pays much attention to it,” says Doug Wilcox, a U.S. Geological Survey researcher .  It’s known that it can kill trees, white pines being particularly sensitive.  Sometimes, it puts such a strain on native species that hardier invasive plants and animals take over. 

 Researchers…have learned that excess salt changes stream chemistry, causing certain minerals to leach out of soils.  At high enough concentrations, salt can increase the acidity of water, causing some of the same negative effects as acid rain.

Studies have shown that road salt attracts deer and moose, causing collisions with vehicles.  Some amphibians refuse to cross salted roads and, as a result, can be separated from their traditional breeding areas.

 Karraker found that high salt concentrations affected the ability of wood frogs and spotted salamanders to survive, with eggs and embryos dying in experiments when subjected to the high end of salt concentrations she saw in the wild.

 Scientists who study road salt’s effect on the ecology do not advocate leaving icy roads untreated.  They hope to learn more about how to prevent salt’s negative impacts without sacrificing public safety. 

 Maine has sought to cut down on the use of road salt in recent years primarily to reduce costs, but also for environmental benefits.