How Road Salt Does More Harm Than Good

While road salt is effective at melting ice on roadways, it comes at a steep cost - far-reaching damage to the environment and polluted drinking water that could harm human health.

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• In the U.S., 20 million tons of salt are used for highway deicing annually

• Chloride does not break down in water, so once it enters waterways and groundwater it becomes a “permanent pollutant,” putting freshwater ecosystems at risk

• Chloride concentrations related to road salt increased in 84% of U.S. streams tested

• Freshwater ecosystems ar…