Many municipalities in southern Ontario use more than 100,000 tonnes per year. Much of the information on the environmental impacts of acetate-based deicers is based on studies regarding calcium-magnesium acetate Therefore, much of the information presented in this section is related specifically to CMA. Modeling studies have estimated that the concentrations of CMA in the runoff from highways is between 10 and 100 mg/L, with a maximum concentration of the closest algal relatives of land plants are __________. 5,000 ppm. Despite high mass loading, runoff and receiving water are predicted to dilute the concentration. The chloride component of chloride-based deicers does not easily precipitate, is not biodegradable, is not readily involved in biological process, and does not adsorb significantly to mineral/soil surface (Levelton Consultants Ltd., 2008). As such, chloride is highly mobile and can impact the soil, vegetation, groundwater, surface water, and air.

The consequences of insufficiently salting roads were seen this week, when hundreds of drivers were stranded by a snowstorm on Interstate 95 in Virginia. Officials said the storm began with rain, which washed away road salt and made it difficult to keep roads clear. Road salt is made from sodium chloride, the same chemical found in table salt. Of all salt consumed in the United States, about 43 percent is used for highway de-icing, according to the U.S. The chemical is effective at keeping roads free of snow and ice, but it also has damaging consequences, according to a growing body of research. Can you point me in the right direction to find more information on the impact road salt has on human health?

Hence, Kelly et al. observed the increase of Cl− and Na+ concentration in rural streams of New York of 1.5 and 0.9 mg/L, respectively. How can we avoid killing trees and making roadkill of deer while de-icing the roads? Recently, in some areas, transportation departments have begun pursuing strategies to reduce salt use.

Results obtained from this study showed that salinity over 3.70 g/l increased embryonic mortality and reduced percentage of hatching and survival rate of larvae. Salinity less than 0.70 g/l did not affect survival and hatching success of the embryos. After a 3-week experiment, size of larvae exposed to salinities over 0.70 g/l was lower compared to larvae reared at lower salinity levels. Meanwhile increases in salinity more than 3.70 g/l caused extension in the hatching period.

For toxic metals, salt decreases partitioning between adsorbed and dissolved metals, resulting in an increase in dissolved metals in salt laden snowmelt and consequently increasing toxicity. The first task in designing a hydronic pavement heating system is determining heating capacity. A simulation method for the heat-mass coupled snow melting process is described. This numerical algorithm can predict system heat consumption, surface condition, and pavement temperature at a specific depth when inlet fluid temperature and meteorological data are provided. The model is validated experimentally and included in the discussion of design alternatives to hydronic pavement heating systems. Simulation test results show the importance of preheating time, heating capacity, weather condition, and snow melting target in snow melting performance.

For the 13 Milwaukee area streams, sampling periods were targeted at runoff events during road-salt application periods. Real-time specific conductance data from Wilson Park Creek were used as an indicator of road salt in Milwaukee area streams and used to initiate this sample collection. Water-quality samples were collected manually during the February 26 and March 7, 2007 sampling periods. Samples were collected either by submerging sample bottles directly into the center of the channel for wadeable streams or by using a weighted-bottle sampler to collect cross-section integrated samples from a bridge for nonwadeable streams .