Every year, we put millions of tons of salt onto roads around the world.
As you walk through the picturesque streets of Krakow, Poland's Old Town in winter, you may encounter an intoxicating aroma. In 2021, city officials took a novel approach to managing icy roads and trails, using used coffee grounds donated by local cafes in place of salt typically applied by park rangers. .
This aromatic substance is an attempt to address the growing concern that the sand that covers roads every winter is having a negative impact on the environment. In particular, it will undermine freshwater ecosystems, which are already the most endangered on Earth. “Given current trends, there is a good chance that many freshwater ecosystems will become salinized to the point of fairly severe ecological impacts within the next 50 years,” he says. Bill Hintza freshwater ecologist at the University of Toledo in Ohio.
Why does road gravel contain salt?
Every winter, we spread tens of millions of tons of salt on roads around the world to lower the melting point of ice and keep roads clear for motorists. We also provide entertainment. In Scotland, a fleet of 230 glitters has been given a funny name by the public. “Snowcially Distanced,” “Grittney Spears,” and “Yes Sir, Ice Can Boogie.”
But what is becoming increasingly clear is the extent to which road salt is leaching into precious freshwater ecosystems, endangering biodiversity and threatening drinking water…
Source: www.newscientist.com
