AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF HIGHWAY DEICING

The study involves an analysis of the cost of damages that result from the use of salt (sodium chloride and calcium chloride) on highways to melt snow and ice. A large literature search and several surveys were carried out in order to determine the types and extent of damages that have occurred. The report contains over 320 references. An in-depth analysis was performed on all of the data obtained. The major cost sectors examined were: Water supplies and health, vegetation, highway structures, vehicles, and utilities. For each of the sectors a cost estimate was developed. The total annual national cost of salt related damage approaches $3 billion dollars or about 15 times the annual national cost for salt purchase and application. While the largest costs result from damage to vehicles, the most serious damage seems to be the pollution of water supplies and the degradation of health which may result. It is particularly difficult to assign costs in this latter area and therefore the estimate may substantially understate the actual indirect costs to society.

• Corporate Authors:

  ABT Associates, Incorporated

  55 Wheeler Street
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02138

  Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory

  26 West St Clair
  Cincinnatic, OH  United States  45219
• Authors:
  • Murray, D M
  • Ernst, UFW
• Publication Date: 1976-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 138 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Automobiles; Bridge decks; Corrosion; Cost estimating; Costs; Data tables; Defects; Deicing; Deicing chemicals; Deicing equipment; Economic analysis; Environmental impacts; Estimates; Health; Highway bridges; Highways; Loss and damage; Public health; Public utilities; Reviews; Runoff; Sodium chloride; Surveys; Vegetation; Vehicles; Water pollution; Water resources
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost analysis; Damage assessment; Degradation; Deicers; Highway damage; Utilities
• Old TRIS Terms: Water supply
• Subject Areas: Economics; Environment; Finance; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00137146
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: EPA-600/2-76/105 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: EPA-68-03-0442
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 4 1976 12:00AM