When snow and ice hit, most people reach for salt. There are ways to reduce its harm

winter It has its fans, but even those who love playing in the snow may not enjoy the chore of clearing inches or even feet of snow and ice after a big storm.

It’s easy to rush to the nearest hardware store and buy a bag of salt, but experts say there are a lot of environmental and other factors to consider when dealing with all the ice and snow.

Here’s what to know.

What kind of salt is there?

Rock salt, also known as sodium chloride, is the cheapest and most commonly used product. But this is bad for the environment and not the most efficient option.

“We referenced a chart that showed chemical effectiveness at a specific temperature. Realistically, when the temperature gets to about 15 degrees or lower, you can keep using more and more rock salt, but it won’t be any more effective than it is now,” said Martin Tirado, the company’s CEO. Snow Ice Management Association, a trade group for industry professionals.

In this case, Tirado said, other products — calcium chloride, magnesium chloride — release heat, helping the salt work better.

Different formulas differ in other ways, including how quickly they act, how corrosive they are, and how they interact with moisture. Calcium chloride and magnesium chloride cost at least twice as much as rock salt.

But all contain chloride, which can contaminate fresh water, harm shrubs, trees and grass, and damage concrete sidewalks, porches and driveways.

Experts say mixtures and coatings can reduce the corrosiveness and environmental harm of these salts.

Calcium manganese acetate is one of the gentlest de-icing products available, specifically developed to replace rock salt and be more environmentally friendly. It is biodegradable, a corrosion inhibitor, and is typically used in liquid form. But it costs much more and still creates problems with dissolved oxygen in the water.

So what about these environmental impacts?

Pamela Bennett, a professor of horticulture at Ohio State University, says rock salt is the worst thing for plants. It gets them in two ways: through the roots and through the air.

Salt penetrates the soil. When plants begin to absorb salt water in the spring, the roots dry out, causing the leaves to dry out. Brown tips on the leaves indicate that the soil may have become too salty.

Salt can also be applied directly to plant leaves (which are evergreens in winter) through mist and spray. The problem is more severe on major roads because of the high volume of traffic.

“When there’s a lot of road salt on the highway, cars will splash and the wind will blow the salt. That salt can turn into what looks like burns,” Bennett said.

Where are my pets?

Most people who walk their dogs in the snow have seen what happens when they walk across a heavy salt treatment – they stop suddenly and raise their paws as if in pain.

“Their paw pads will dry out, or they’ll get little cuts because these crystals are sharp, and then they’ll chew on them because that’s the only way they know to feel better,” said Alison Manchester, an assistant professor of clinical science at the school. Cornell University. If they swallow enough salt, it can also cause vomiting.

For some, animal safety is a strong reason to seek out salt-free options to protect against ice and snow.

So what is my salt-free alternative?

Abrasive materials such as gravel and sand help increase grip, so pedestrians and tires are less likely to slip. But they have their own problems.

Sand that flows into freshwater bodies (lakes, streams and rivers) kills natural growth, Tirado said.

Sand can also accumulate in the soil and eventually become a problem for plant growth. Experts say it can even be made into a form of concrete when mixed with sticky soil.

Unconventional solutions already exist. You can buy a de-icer that has chloride coated in beet juice or beet extract, which are coated in granules that offer a variety of benefits, including melting ice faster, working at lower temperatures, and staying in place. There is also a Korean company Star’s science and technologyis using material taken from invasive starfish to produce a deicer that it says releases chloride materials more slowly, thus avoiding some of the corrosion and environmental problems of salt.

Be prepared to shovel a lot—and don’t overdo it

Experts say preparation and strategies can make clearing ice easier. Start by checking the weather forecast to see how much snow is expected.

“people Wait until the storm passes before you start shoveling,” Tirado said. “If it’s 1 to 2 inches, that’s OK. If you start to grow 3, 4 or more inches, you can’t wait…you’ll need to go out multiple times. In this way, it makes the paved surface clearer in an efficient and proactive way. ”

Ground temperature is important. If the weather is warm, you may be able to use less than you think you need. Cooler ground temperatures may require more.

It’s also important to use anything placed on your sidewalk or driveway correctly.

“The key here is not to use too much or spread it out too much,” said David Orr, director of Cornell University’s Local Roads Program. “We may also need to get into the habit of saying: It may not be full nudity, but that’s okay.”

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