Is over-salting damaging our eco-system?

Question

Are we over-salting our nation's highways? Is there a satisfactory alternative?

Answer 1

Yes, we definitely are oversalting the roads. Salt kills plants growing by the road, and has many detrimental effects when it washes off roads and into lakes and rivers. One alternative that some states are already using is to use sand instead. Sand doesn't melt the ice and snow, but instead gives cars better traction. Sand still has its downsides, but it is far less harmful than salt.

Answer 2

Salt isn't good for slugs and snails but it doesn't seem to have endangered them much. Birds might eat them by mistake and overdose on salt. There are positive influences too as salt marsh plants take advantage and can grow next to roads.

And most of the salt gets washed out to the sea anyway.

There is a sugar and cereal based alternative, but sheep love it and will eat it if they can.

There are much worse things in road dirt like heavy metals and oils.

Answer 3

If we are over-salting our highways, then please explain why all the stuff that comes up along the sides of the roads in the spring is the greenest of anywhere else. That's where you see green plants first. So, how harmful is something that occurs naturally in the earth ? I wouldn't want it going in my well, but nobody I know has had any in their well for all these years. I think , in some cases, they are getting all in a froth with all this frenzied Green talk, on some things.