The Impact of Road Salt on the Environment · The Impact of Road Salt on the Environment Presented...

The Impact of Road Salt

on the Environment

Presented By:

Steve Vernik –

VP and Director of Operations

Gaia Enterprieses, Inc.

Critical Area Ice Management at Nuclear Power Plant

@ 5 ft thick cement

From River and then Back

Salt burns paws, skin, eyes, mouths, noses.

The New Jersey Great

Swamp

• It is VITAL to protect and keep this area. Building on it, dumping on it, and harming it must be avoided!

The Great Lake PassaicThe Passaic RiverThe Watchung Mountains

The way the water flows

Benefits are a Habitat for Wildlife

Prevent Nutrient and Toxic Build up

•Marshes and swamps may be found together, and marshes may even represent a stage of succession from pond to marsh to swamp, to forest.

Fresh Water Marsh

The Great Swamp

The Many Mammals of the Great Swamp

Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fishes

• The Swamp is home and a protective place for many different species of Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fishes. Some species are endangered.

So Many Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fishes

GORGEOUS BIRDS!

Incredible Diversity

And So Many More

Why is the swamp’s health deteriorating?

Time to study the patient.

Salt from Ice Melt

• Road Salt main product used - 60% chloride Ion (Cl-) 40% positive ion (Na+, Mg+, Ca+, K+)

• NaCl most common form used

• ● 10 - 15 millions tons/ yr in US

• ● Most applied to NE and Midwest states (¾ in NY, OH, MI, IL, PA, and WI)

• Run off to surface water @ ~55%

• Percolation to Grounwater @ ~45%

• Snowmelt run off can be >10,000 mg/L of CL-

Road Salt is NO Joke – It’s permanent!

• Road Salt main product used - 60% chloride Ion (Cl-) 40% positive ion (Na+, Mg+, Ca+, K+)

• NaCl most common form used

• ● 10 - 15 millions tons/ yr in US

• ● Most applied to NE and Midwest states (¾ in NY, OH, MI, IL, PA, and WI)

• Run off to surface water @ ~55%

• Percolation to Grounwater @ ~45%

• Snowmelt run off can be >10,000 mg/L of CL-

• Ocean water has a Salinity of 35,0000 mg/l• Fresh Water classified by USGS at <1,000 mg/L• 250 mg/L Chloride = USEPA regulation for human

consumption• 1 tsp in 5 gallons of water = 280 mg/L

•At concentrations of 220-240 mg/L –10% of species could die after 30 days •Affects throughout the food chain –Algae •Critical level: 12 mg/L –Invertebrates •Diversity decreases as salinity increases –Fish •Trout: affects observed around 250 mg/L; 6743 mg/L = 50% mortality in 30 days

Animals are drawn to roads to eat on tasty but toxic salt

•Mammals –Moose and Deer Drinking salty water makes them lose fear of vehicles and humans –Birds

•Seed-eating birds may not be able to distinguish between seed and salt particle

•Sparrow study: Behavioral abnormalities from ingesting a single salt particle, death from ingesting just two

Salt kills roadside plants

• Salt kills natural plants, many some of the beautiful wild flowers of New Jersey

• Invasive salt resistant species are more like to grow there

• These invasive plants do not help sustain the natural environment

• They do not feed the critters that feed on them.

• Salt can spread hundreds of feet beyond the road side destroying soil

• Trees especially coniferous species suffer

Natural Ways of Determining Health

Diatoms, Zooplankton, BacteriaHelp Determine Health of Environment

Aerobic Bacteria is a Good Sign

Anaerobic is a Bad Sign

New Jersey’s Mussels can help Strengthen the Swamp

A Healthy Food Chain Means a Healthy Swamp

Black Ice is a Stealthy Killer Ninja Assassin

The Importance of Protecting Infrastructure

Flint Michigan Water Crisis Was Caused By High Chloride from Road Salt

SALT CAUSESEXPENSIVE CONCRETE AND

SURFACE DAMAGE

Different SaltsOf Different NamesDon’t be fooled

All Chlorides, Acetates, Sulfates are different Salts.

Salts Are Dangerous to environment, infrastructures, human, and animal life.

Mixes are dangerous –PPE &face masks are often neglected

Magnesium Chloride is one of the Most Toxic To Inhale

Different SaltsOf Different NamesDon’t be fooled

All Chlorides, Acetates, Sulfates are different Salts.

Salts Are Dangerous to environment, infrastructures, human, and animal life.

Responsibility IncludesProper Spread RatesProper StorageReducing Spillage

Good Principals

to Live By

•Often deicers are applied at rate higher than

manufacturer recommends –Train applicators –

Calibrate trucks by computer

•Use proper amount = Lower cost

•Spread according to label –Mechanically remove

ice/snow –Apply proper amount of deicer –Wait for

break-up

•Know temperature threshold of product you use

•Amount of ice a specific quantity of salt can melt

decreases as temperature decreases –At 30 oF,

2% salt concentration will melt ice –At 0 oF, 21%

salt concentration will melt ice

Anti-icing

We MUST be more mindful of how Salt gets into the Environment

Budget Issues

Although municipalities could use other substances to combat icing in the winter, the alternatives are "exceedingly more expensive" than salt.

For instance a ton of rock salt costs $60, while a ton of magnesium acetate sells for roughly $2,000.

It is time to reconsider the cost and the budget

• USEPA suggest that every $60-70 Ton of Salt has a long term cost of @ $1000.

• There are some costs that are priceless such as the life and death of environment and people.

OUR BEST SOLUTION

Not Only Are Our Products Safe For Nature But They Are Also Safe On New Concrete

Products are as Effective as they are SAFE

Our Product Traction Magic is Great for Traction

For Pedestrians for Traffic for Safety for All