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Road Salt Essay

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Road Salt Essay
Road salt, also called rock salt, is sodium chloride, chemically combined with NaCl. Na is the chemical abbreviation for sodium and Cl is the abbreviation for chloride. Table salt that we use is exactly the same chemical. The US Environmental Protection Agency has set limits on allowable levels of chloride in water but not sodium. In high concentrations both sodium and chloride can be harmful to aquatic organisms. Sodium is the primary concern for humans, as it can be harmful to people with high blood pressure. the biggest concern with road salt is how it affects our water quality. The chemical doesn't disappear when the snow and ice melts. The chemical washes away into lakes and streams or seeps into groundwater supplies. Researchers …show more content…
it might damage the way our crops and planets over the winter making us not have had enough of healthy, clean foods, vegetable and etc in the spring and summer. Salt can lead to plant death and can also cause a colonization of salt tolerant species, such as cattails, thereby reducing species diversity. Vegetation along roadways is a natural buffer area between pollutants and the waters. With salt damage and vegetation degradation it compromises the retention and processing of pollutants in stormwater. The other outcome is that it might affect out our wildlife . very small amounts of salt can result in toxicosis and death within the bird population. Wildlife such as deer and moose are also attracted to the roadway to ingest salt crystals, which leads to higher incidents of vehicular accidents and wildlife kills. Road salt can cause a decline among populations of salt sensitive species reducing natural diversity. Damage to vegetation can have significant impact on wildlife habitat by destroying food resources, shelter and breeding and nesting sites, and by creating a favorable environment for non-native invasive species. Because of road salt it is damaging lots of things wildlife,vegetation etc. We need to change our ways before it becomes into a huge problem that can't be flexible

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