Each week, we explore unique solutions to some of the world's biggest problems. By submitting your email, you agree to our, How America got addicted to road salt and why it's become aproblem, There are huge upsides to salting the streets. "We've become salt-addicted over the last 50 years, and we're now discovering that there are all these hidden costs," says Xianming Shi, an associate professor in civil and environmental engineering at Washington State University. But most of the state still doesnt use rock salt, aka sodium chloride or table salt. For the same reason, road salt threatens pipes that bear drinking water, scientists say. In actuality, salt compound deicers have been used statewide since 1996, with an increase in tonnage applied each year. But it comes at a cost: De . A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. One 1992 study found that spreading salt can reduce car accidents by 87 percent during and after a snowstorm. Known as anti-icing, this practice prevents the formation of frost on pavement, and its implementation has been increasing across New England. This makes salt-reduction programs like Minnesotas crucial, Hintz said, to flatten the curve of freshwater salt concentrations. Merely it comes at a cost: De-icing salt degrades roads and bridges, contaminates drinking water and harms the surround, according to a slate of scientists expressing growing alarm. Im not really sure. Salt will also eat through: To combat salt corrosive awfulness, manufacturers will sometimes treat your car with anti-rust sprays, zinc-rich galvanizing compounds and rubberized underbody coatings that work for a while. Shi has worked on research for newer "smart" snowplows that not only measure pavement temperature but also detect residual salt that's already been laid down, as well as the presence of ice on the road. ROAD SALT IN WINTER. In 2017:Information technology'south so cold out, a dog froze, sharks died and route salt is useless. Donate today tohelp keep Grists site and newsletters free. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Road salt can contaminate drinking water, kill or endanger wildlife, increase soil erosion, and damage private and public property. One study in Utah estimated that salt corrosion now costs the US $16 to $19 billion per year. What state uses the most road salt? Here are the 21 states (plus one district) that youll almost always see listed as part of the salt belt: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington D.C. Utah. We can still have our winter mobility and be safe with less salt., To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Moose, elk, and other mammals visit natural salt licks to fill up on sodium. The consequences of insufficiently salting roads were seen this week, when hundreds of drivers were stranded by a snowstorm on Interstate 95 in Virginia. Top: California. "We've become salt-addicted over the last 50 years, and we're now discovering that there are all these hidden costs," says Xianming Shi, an associate professor in civil and environmental engineering at Washington State University. In actuality, salt compound deicers have been used statewide since 1996, with an increase in tonnage applied each year. The pipeline crosses the Denali Environmental, Health, and Economic Impacts of Road Salt, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2016, Stone (Crushed), Minerals Yearbook, 2015, Magnesium Compounds, Physical and Chemical Effects of Deicers on Concrete Pavement, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2016, Sand and Gravel (Construction), Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, Geologist-In-Training Certification in the United States, 2019. Every state allowing legal sales applies an excise tax to cannabis based on the product's quantity, its price, or both. In some areas, moose and elk get attracted to the salt and wander onto roads, increasing the risk of crashes. Highways depots, spreading vehicles and the de-icing agent all contribute, but with good management, this burden can be minimized.. 4.1K views, 50 likes, 28 loves, 154 comments, 48 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from 7th District AME Church: Thursday Morning Opening Session Due to its chemical properties, route common salt can exacerbate the damage roads already suffer each winter when they repeatedly freeze and thaw. As with all highway maintenance activities, there are environmental implications from winter road maintenance, the organization said in a statement. Tackling the utilize of road salt by private companies poses a bigger hurdle, equally the practice is almost entirely unregulated. Ive never been, so I cant say for sure. North/South Dakota. JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. AAA suggests drivers wash and clean their vehicles regularly during winter to help offset the effects of road salt and to limit driving when salt and other de-icing chemicals are at their highest concentrations. New technologies, such as porous pavement, are being engineered to reduce runoff from roads and have been found reduce snow and ice cover. Why doesn't California use salt on roads? Final Four: April 6 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. That's why we keep our work free. Instead, its going to be crucial to encourage safer winter driving habits like asking people to stay home during storms whenever possible, or to drive more slowly even on a highway. Still, these only reduce the need for salt somewhat; they don't solve the problem entirely. Reader support helps sustain our work. Connecticut and Maine likewise autumn in the top ten, while Pennsylvania ranks 13th, Maryland 16th and Delaware . Please click here to see any active alerts. Nineteen of the 22 states we contacted regulate storage; three do not. That'southward considering road salt, especially an culling diverseness of magnesium chloride, tin slowly leach calcium out of concrete in bridges, as well as roads and sidewalks. Go through a car wash that has an under-spray, says Manager of Vehicle Services at Firestone Complete AutoCare, Joe Roger That will try to reduce the chances that all that salt and salt water will get on the vehicle and start to corrode., Your paint, if you havent properly waxed, Fuel tanks and other components if there are bad welds. NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Transportation assures motorists it is stocked and ready to clear roadways of ice and snow. The EPA says this can reduce salt use41 to 75 percent and is best done two hours before the storm. Road salt works by lowering the freezing point of water via a process called freezing point depression. Possibly good: Virginia. Domestic salt production quadrupled from 1940 to 1970, owing in large part to the adoption of road salt deicing practices on the new Interstate Highway System[3]. The salt belt, also known as the rust-belt, is where the rusting in cars is found the most. Unfortunately, no one's yet figured out a perfect alternative to salt, which is still the cheapest and easiest way to unfreeze roads. But environmentalists say the problems associated with road salt are getting harder to ignore. Arkansas. Arizona. America's habit to road salt the "acid pelting of our time" tin be cured, said Eric Siy, the executive director of The Fund for Lake George, a nonprofit supporting scientific efforts at the lake in upstate New York. Some say that salts corrosive properties slow down once the salt dries into a crusty white dust all over your car. And so, they can consider new approaches similar the ones in Lake George. 0:35. High chloride ratios in the Flintstone River contributed to Michigan'southward lead drinking water crisis, and the aforementioned problem impacts smaller systems across the country as well, said Edwards, the adept who helped uncover Flint'south drinking water problem. Brining involves laying down a liquid mixture of salt before a storm, which prevents ice from sticking and reduces the need for repetitive salting. Not only does it rust steel alloys, it damages aluminum rims unless you wash the stuff off ASAP. The estimated average abundance of tantalum in Earth's crust is about 2 parts per million (or 0.0002%). Traditional geoscience departments commonly require 60 semester hours of geology and geology-related elective courses to achieve a BA/BS degree. For example, it says that Massachusetts, The first natural-gas banin the USjust got shotdown, Bidens new vehicle emissions rules could speed the EV revolution, What a pending Supreme Court ruling could mean for Bidens new clean water protections, Amid fracking boom, Pennsylvania faces toxic wastewater reckoning. How to Salt Your Road Yourself The freezing point of the water is lowered once the salt is added, so it the salt makes it more difficult for . But once it starts to get colder things get a little science-y and salts effectiveness starts to fade. Salt consumption in the United States, 1940-2014. Another technology gaining traction is solar roads, made up of engineered solar panels that can be walked and driven upon. Once identified, proper adjustments were made at the water treatment plant to gear up the problem. The most common substance used for deicing roads and highways is Sodium Chloride (NaCl) or table salt known as rock salt when spread on the road because of its much larger granules. According to recent American Geosciences Institute (AGI) workforce data, less than 11% of geoscience graduates receiving a BA/BS or MA/MS degree develop a career in academia and/or research. Data source: U.S. Geological Survey[2], Total cost of rock salt used for roadway deicing. This can cost a bit more upfront. As snow and ice melt on roads, the salt washes into soil, lakes and streams, in some cases contaminating drinking water reservoirs and wells. Even a small amount can be dangerous when ingested, causing vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, disorientation, and even death (by sodium toxicosis) in high amounts. Environment Canada completed a five-year study in 2001 that concluded road salt should be added to its list of toxic substances, although the department did not actually ban the use of road salt.It also stated that any measures taken in response to the study should be "based on optimization of winter road maintenance practices so as not to jeopardize road safety, while minimizing the . The downside? Salt is used on roads because it helps lower the melting point of ice, to a point. Yes, Montana salts its roads It's a common misconception that Montana does not use salt on its roadways. Currently, only a small fraction (5%) of the sand dispersed in Rhode Island is removed; the rest gets washed away into adjacent water bodies: clouding the water and making it difficult for aquatic plants to photosynthesize. Maybe Alaskans dont like road salt. BleachedBora Vendor , w/Business number Joined Oct 16, 2003 Location Gresham, Oregon TDI Beet juice and cheese brine are biodegradable and less harmful to wildlife. Monthly or one-time, donate now when all donations will be matched by a generous group of donors. Innovative solutions that limit the amount of rock salt needed are also being explored. But environmental activists and scientists argue that its possible to maintain winter safety while reducing the amount of salt spread on streets and highways. Wyoming. What is MDSS? All donations doubled for a limited time. In 2013, the US Department of Transportation established the Center for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation in Cold Climates, whereXianming Shi is an assistant director. It then costs another $5 billion to pay for the resulting damage caused by salt. Last month, Gov. New Hampshire has been successful in reducing road salt use through improved management practices and policy. Maine, New York, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin have the most detailed policies. In a similar vein, newer Maintenance Decision Support System software gives cities more precise weather forecasts to help them use salt more precisely. Elite Member. By 2013, 26 states were sprinkling roughly 17 million tons of salt on their roads each winter. How a few industrial minerals supply a vital transportation service. (Usage can vary wildly by state: An old National Research Councilsurvey found that Massachusetts used about 19.5 tons per lane mile, whereas Idaho usedjust 0.5 tons.). It can corrode the steel in cars, trucks, bridges, and reinforcing rods in concrete weakening valuable infrastructure. ", "Unfortunately," he added, "we may not see whatever visible symptoms before it is too late.". Top rock salt producing (yellow) and consuming (blue) states in 2014. Known as one of the greenest commercial buildings in the world, since it opened its doors on Earth Day in 2013 the Bullitt Center has been setting a new standard for sustainable design. In January, researchers from the United States and Canada found that even salt concentrations below the threshold considered safe by governments were causing severe damage to organisms. "It's like when people historic period, their bones lose calcium and go brittle and are more than likely to crevice," Shi said. At Vox, we believe that everyone deserves access to information that helps them understand and shape the world they live in. All rights reserved. 1999-2023 Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. In 2013 the State launched, the "New Hampshire Road Salt Reduction Initiative" to address the high number of waters impaired by chloride (19 water bodies in 2008, and 43 in 2012). It has killed or endangered wildlife in freshwater ecosystems, with high chloride levels toxic to fish, bugs and amphibians, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Salt, after all, has plenty of drawbacks. New Hampshire passed a similar law in 2013, while Wisconsin also has a salt wise training program. For regions that experience frequent snowstorms, salting can help keep streets and sidewalks clear and prevent slick driving conditions. What this means for wildlife upwards the nutrient chain needs more study. DOT also says it does not use magnesium chloride when the temperature is above 25 degrees Fahrenheit because salt alone is effective at those temperatures. Heres why thats a big deal. But aside from corroding metal and concrete leading to an estimated $5 billion worth of damages each year it also ends up in rivers and lakes, where it has toxic effects on aquatic life. Fay recommends a few simple steps to route crews to limit table salt use and its impacts: Cover salt piles to protect them from atmospheric precipitation and calibrate equipment to ensure proper common salt distribution. New Mexico. But it helps. Colorado. They dont realize that this has a hidden consequence.. Even moderately salty waters tin kill zooplankton, the tiny aquatic creatures at the bottom of the food chain that he said "assistance make a lake function properly." Maybe they just ride around on polar bears all winter. Rhode Island has adopted several measures to reduce the amount of salt needed. 1Mineral Commodity Summaries 2016, Salt, U.S. Geological Survey2Minerals Yearbook 2014, Salt, U.S.Geological Survey3Special Report 235: Highway Deicing, National Research Council4The Material Flow of Salt, U.S. Department of the Interior5Environmental, Health, and Economic Impacts of Road Salt, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services6Mineral Commodity Summaries 2016, Stone (Crushed), U.S. Geological Survey7Minerals Yearbook, 2015, Magnesium Compounds, U.S. Geological Survey8Mineral Commodity Summaries 2016, Potash, U.S. Geological Survey9Physical and Chemical Effects of Deicers on Concrete Pavement, Utah Department of Transportation10Mineral Commodity Summaries 2016, Sand and Gravel (Construction), U.S. Geological Survey. Salt supplies have been replenished in all 95 counties in preparation for the winter season, and crews have readied snow plows and brine trucks. Nissen hopes that this protection will encourage more private applicators to be certified in smart salting practices, which are not only better for the environment but help save money on salt. To some extent, that's a concern for humans. Many experts believe private industry could be using more salt than government, only no ane's tracking that. The damage from salting highways alone now costs us $5 billion per year. The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. It creates a salty surface when it does snow etc. All donations matched! Worse, when all that salt dissolves and washes away,it steadily accumulates in rivers and streams. It as well can stunt the growth of fish, similar rainbow trout, leaving them more vulnerable to predators. Road crews dump more than 20 million metric tons of salt on U.S. roads each winter to keep them free of ice and snow an almost unfathomable number of teaspoons. illinois. Rock salt is very effective at melting snow and ice and is considered to be pretty cheap. Alaska Connecticut Maryland Massachusetts Delaware New Hampshire New Jersey Ohio Pennsylvania Rhode Island Washington D.C. Illinois Indiana Iowa Missouri Maine New York Michigan Minnesota West Virginia Vermont Virginia Wisconsin The worst states for rust are primarily located in the Northeastern portion of the U.S. The upside? What impact can gender roles have on consumer behaviour? A 10% salt solution will lower water's freezing point from 32 F (0 C) to 20 F . The others have written policies all with different levels of sophistication, particularly with respect to application rates and techniques. At the top are five New England states that used the most salt per mile of road lanes over the past four years: The agency has since reduced using salt crystals, which are less effective because. There are huge upsides to salting the streets. What are liquid anti-icers and de-icers, and how do they work? Highway Salt nvironmental protection, properly, is a high public priority. INTERSTATE 70, COLORADO It's a catch-22 of winter driving: To allow faster and safer travel, transportation officials in the 1990s began splashing a salt-based de-icer called . Are Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney in love, or are they good actors? Top 3 consuming states: NY (13%), OH (12%), IL (11%). And non-salt alternatives, like sand or even beet juice, can come with their own problems, silting up rivers or introducing nutrients into ecosystems that can lead to algal blooms. "Approximately 15 million tons of deicing salt are used each year in the United States," said Rena Silverman, a journalist for National Geographic. more futuristic technologies, like "smart" snowplows that are thriftier with salt, or ice-free pavement. (The salt works by lowering the freezing temperature of water, preventing ice from forming.) Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. And that's just today. And people generally accepted that the roads weren't always passable in icy conditions. Of all salt consumed in the United States, about 43 percent is used for highway de-icing, according to the U.S. Geological Survey in 2020. Road salt, which works by lowering the melting point of ice, is cheap and effective, reducing car accidents by up to 85 percent. Furthermore, excess road salt accumulates on roadside areas killing roadside plants and harming wildlife that eat the salt crystals. Dr. Hintz said his review showed that elevated salinity levels in freshwater ecosystems had already caused a reduction in the abundance and growth of freshwater organisms and a reduction in their reproduction outputs. The only newsroom focused on exploring solutions at the intersection of climate and justice. Depending on what models are being recalled, Canada can be included too because, well its Canada and it snows a lot there. Grist is powered by WordPress VIP. From the onset of an event, our goal is to keep at least a single lane open in each direction and work towards bare and wet pavement across all lanes. Some alternatives to road salt. :We employ millions of tons of salt to melt ice from roads. Although many tantalum-bearing minerals have been identified, the most For scientists, geoscientists and paleontologists in particular, access to public lands is crucial. Elite Eight: March 30-31. when it gets extremely cold, other chemicals like magnesium chloride or calcium chloride are mixed in. Welcome to Oregon, indeed. At the top are five New England states that used the most salt per mile of road lanes over the past four years: Rhode Island (44.2 tons), Massachusetts (34.6 tons), New York (28.0 tons), New Hampshire (25.1 tons) and Vermont (23.3 tons). DOT, which uses about 150,000 tons of salt annually, says it applies less salt per mile than do other New England states. But it's an even bigger deal for all the other freshwater organisms in those lakes and streams. Why isnt Alaska on the primary [salt belt] list? (Sodium chloride is essential for life, but too much of it has been linked with high blood pressure and even cardiovascular disease). I have no doubt that this group of individuals will work tirelessly to protect our state from the adverse effects of road salt, Ms. Hochul said.
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