Road salt: more than just that stain on your boots

Look at your shoes. Do it now. I'll bet there's a salt-residue pattern adding to the style of your footwear. You might even be sporting some salt stains along the bottom of your jeans too. My month-old boots have already been permanently damaged from the enormous amount of salt spread on Toronto sidewalks. But this is an issue that goes beyond our footwear or pant legs - there are some serious environmental consequences that arise from using this chemical to clear snow off the streets.Sodium chloride used to melt snow and ice is the same stuff you sprinkle on your fries - but I wouldn't recommend collecting road salt and grinding it into your salt-shaker to save money. Besides, it's a pretty cheap substance. More environmental alternatives to road salt, such as magnesium chloride (also known as liquid anti-icers), cost up to seven times more than harmful NaCl. It's no wonder most cities in Canada opt for the cheap stuff. But over time, salt is costing plenty in terms of environmental and economic damage.

Aside from causing your footwear to break down at an exceptional rate, road salt also causes corrosion to vehicles and metal structures such as parking garages and bridges. Repair costs are inevitably far more than a new pair of boots. The salt also causes big problems for ecosystems along the roadways. Salt accumulates on the side of the road: it burns trees, reduces plant growth and builds up in the soil, causing erosion. Because it also travels with melting snow, road salt runs into waterways creating a toxic environment for many aquatic species. Salt can also cause metals to dissolve in water, which makes the toxic environment even worse. And if you were trying to reduce salt in your diet, the water you drink quite likely contains high salt content thanks to de-icing procedures on the road.

The City of Toronto has started to make some changes, but they are still far from eliminating salt as a method of de-icing. Compared to other Canadian cities, Toronto uses the greatest amount of salt per year: between 130 000 to 150 000 tons on average. This being the case, Toronto should be the leader in reducing the harm caused by keeping roads safe. In 2002, the City of Toronto began to reduce the amount of salt used by revising its de-icing practices. The City now wets the salt before spreading it on roadways, and has implemented procedures to reduce spillage of salt during transportation and storage. Toronto needs to do more to reduce the use of this chemical for snow removal.

Transitioning to less toxic and corrosive chemicals would be a progressive step for Toronto, but even small measures such as reducing the actual amount of salt spread on the roads and sidewalks could lower the impact on affected ecosystems. Salt distribution should be eliminated in local traffic areas which could be ploughed if necessary. Expecting Toronto motorists to drive with caution based on the conditions might sound crazy, but a small change on roads with less traffic could make a significant difference.

While the City of Toronto is being held accountable for the environmental repercussions of its snow removal practices, local businesses and institutions are not. As long as the snow is cleared in front of buildings, owners won't be fined. This means less shovelling, and more salt. Even when the temperature is above freezing, even when the sidewalks are dry, you can witness salt being spread. It's the easiest way to eliminate snow - even if it isn't there!

Public salt spreading should be banned. The liquid de-icers can be used as alternatives; with their higher cost, hopefully more businesses will opt for old fashioned removal techniques, and apply chemicals only when absolutely necessary.

It's going to cost us to deal with snow. It's a consequence of living in Canada. But let's pay more now and reduce the damage that we can't repair with money later.