ROAD SALT USE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

AT THE PRESENT TIME, SALT USE CANNOT BE SERIOUSLY RESTRICTED; IT IS FAR TOO ESSENTIAL IN SNOW AND ICE CONTROL, AND THERE ARE NO READILY AVAILABLE SUBSTITUTES. ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS GENERALLY ARE PROHIBITIVE IN COST AND MAY HAVE MUCH WORSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS THAN SALT. HOWEVER, AS MORE SALT IS REQUIRED FOR WINTER MAINTENANCE OF STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, THERE HAVE BEEN LOCALIZED INCIDENCES OF WATER POLLUTION, MOSTLY IN THE VICINITY OF LARGE, POORLY LOCATED OR IMPROPERLY COVERED SALT PILES. SUCH POLLUTION MUST BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM IN THE FUTURE IF MAXIMUM BENEFITS FROM DEICING SALTS ARE TO BE MAINTAINED. ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS TAKEN SHOULD BE TO INSPECT EXISTING AND PROPOSED SALT STORAGE SITES TO DETERMINE THE POLLUTION POTENTIAL OF EACH SITE AND TO DEVISE MEANS OF POLLUTION PREVENTION OR ELIMINATION IF THE INSPECTIONS PROVE SUCH ACTIONS TO BE NECESSARY. CONCURRENTLY, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF MORE EFFICIENT, ECONOMICAL, AND DEPENDABLE SALT HANDLING AND SALT SPREADING EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE EXPEDITED. IT IS ALSO ADVISED THAT CONCERTED EFFORTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD CORRECTING WASTEFUL AND IMPROPER SALT HANDLING OR APPLICATION PRACTICES OF MAJOR SALT USERS SUCH AS HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENTS.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1973/425/425-008.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309021545
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Walker, William H
  • Wood, Frank O
• Publication Date: 1973

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 67-76
• Monograph Title: Environmental degradation by de-icing chemicals and effective countermeasures
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 425
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Deicers (Equipment); Deicing; Development; Environmental impacts; Equipment; Handling and storage; Pollution; Research; Snow and ice control; Sodium chloride; Sodium chloride; Spreading; Storage facilities
• Uncontrolled Terms: Deicers; Research and development
• Subject Areas: Environment; Freight Transportation; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Research; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00219098
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309021545
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Aug 15 1973 12:00AM