Animals can be struck by vehicles while indulging their salt fix. Like many drugs, it can slow the reaction time of birds, causing them to be less alert around approaching cars .

“Birds get apathetic, they can’t fly off and that’s when they get schmucked by an 18-wheeler. So, while they’re getting hit by the cars, we believe the root cause is road salt,” said scientist Pierre Mineau.

Aquatic life is also at risk when melting snow gathers salt, finding its way to lakes and streams. Chloride concentrations can reach more than 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/l), preventing the distribution of oxygen and nutrients. Environment Canada estimates that 10% of aquatic species are harmed by prolonged exposure to concentrations greater than 220 mg/l.

Vegetation is also effected by road salt, causing it to turn brown with dehydration. Salt intolerant species, such as Maple trees are disappearing from roadways. Vegetation as far as 162 feet from roads can be damaged. Because of the intricacy of the web of life, harm to vegetation can have a residual effect on wildlife.

Salt can also have an effect on health in humans although there is little evidence of salt addiction. The U.S. E.P.A. stated, “Especially since the construction of the interstate highway system, water contamination due to wintertime road salting has become an increasing problem.” Salt not only increases chloride levels in water, but can also increase the corrosion of pipes. This releases lead and other metals into the drinking water.

Many times this winter, I have seen salt trucks covering the roads with salt. Although this certainly offers a numerous benefits to the public, it does come with a price. Many states have been using alternatives to salt with success.

You probably find that you need to use some sort of "ice melt" to help with the job, but we all know that most of these products are not without environmental side effects. In fact, it's been quite obvious for some time that most existing solutions are not environmentally-friendly, but super eco-friendly solutions are still not available.

Of course, there are ways to be less damaging to the environment when deicing pavement. You might want to take a couple of Advil for this one, because it's going to get a little manual around here.

The first step is to stop the ice before it starts. Clear snow before ice has a chance to form. If you're dealing with ice from freezing rain, Treehugger recommends that you break up that ice with a flat hoe. However, that may not be entirely reasonable depending on the area that you are working with, and the amount of ice.

One of the more environmentally friendly compounds out there (or less toxic, at least) is CMA - calcium magnesium acetate. If you put it down before the snowfall, it will even help stop ice from forming. It's a great alternative to salt, however it becomes much less effective in temperatures lower than the mid-20s.

One final recommendation is use whatever product you choose sparingly. Put down just enough to help you break up the ice so that you can remove it more easily.

Rebecca says: I'm feeling for you all right now. We're expecting a temperature drop here in Miami this weekend. A high in the mid-60s is a push for us, but we've pledged not to complain after seeing what the rest of the country is up against. Stay warm and drink some fair-trade hot cocoa!

Resources:

Environmental Literary Council, Impacts of Deicing

ENN, Environmentally Friendlier Ways to De-Ice Pavement?

University of Nebraska, Winter Deicing Agents for the Homeowner

University of Maryland, Melting Ice Safely