ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS OF ROAD SALTING. IN: CHEMICAL DEICERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Among the costs imposed on society-at-large by the extensive use of deicing salt is the damage to roadside vegetation and the elevation of sodium levels in drinking water. This paper lays out the appropriate conceptual framework for placing a dollar value on these costs, based on the economic principles of cost-benefit analysis. The model is empirically estimated with data relating to New York state. The results indicate that the typical overnight camper values roadside tree damage in New York's Adirondack Park at $1.55 per year. With respect to drinking water, road salting is found to elevate sodium levels in the sample of communities analyzed, but no significant relationship to hypertensive deaths is discovered. The latter is attributed to the low levels of sodium in the communities sampled.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0873717058
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This book is an outgrowth of the Alternative Deicing Technologies and the Environment Conference convened at Michigan State University on March 25-26, 1991. The editor is Frank M. D'Itri.
• Corporate Authors:

  Lewis Publishers, Incorporated

  121 South Main Street, P.O. Drawer 519
  Chelsea, MI  United States  48118
• Authors:
  • Vitaliano, D F
• Publication Date: 1992

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: v.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Deicing chemicals; Drinking water; Environmental impacts; Sodium chloride; Sodium chloride
• Geographic Terms: New York (State)
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Public Transportation; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00621971
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0-87371-705-8
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1992 12:00AM