Road Salt
Fifty four lakes and streams in MN are now impaired by high concentrations of chloride from road salts, and many more are near the federal water quality limit for this toxic pollutant. Chloride is toxic to many aquatic species, including fish, amphibians and plankton. At high concentrations, chloride can result in major changes, leading to toxic algae blooms and fish kills. When sodium chloride is used to melt snow and ice, the sodium ion can leach into groundwater, causing increased blood pressure problems for humans drinking that water. Terrestrial plants also experience toxicity when exposed to high concentrations of chloride. And there is an economic cost ( $5 billion /year in the U.S.) of using road salts, due to corrosion of metal and concrete. Of course, deicing roads with salts is an important safety measure that reduces winter auto accidents by 85% compared to untreated roads. A bill( HF 2908/SF 2768) is currently being debated in MN that would provide incentives and training for "smart salting" techniques that would reduce the amounts of salt used and the runoff into surface and groundwater.
Source: MCEA: 4/8/22

Steve Spigarelli
EcoFaith Network NE MN Team
First Lutheran Church, Aitkin, MN
Northeastern Minnesota Synod