Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Environmental Impact of Chemical Deicers – A Review

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Increased application of chemical deicers for winter maintenance has resulted in increased concentrations of deicer constituents in the environment. The runoffs from the deicing operation have a deteriorating effect on soil and water quality. But the degree of impact is localized and it depends on various climatic factors and can also be attributed to the type of salts used and their storage conditions. This paper presents a review of the environmental impact of deicing chemicals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amrhein, C., Strong, J. E. and Mosher, P. A.: 1992, ‘Effect of deicing salts on metal and organic matter mobilization in roadside soils’, Environmental Science and Technology 26, 703–709.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayers, M. A., Brown, R. G. and Oberts, G. L.: 1985, ‘Runoff and chemical loading in small watersheds in the twin cities metropolitan area, Minnesota’, US Geological survey, water-resources investigations report, 85–4122.

  • Bauski, B. and Goetz, D.: 1993, ‘Effect of deicing salts on heavy metal mobility’, Acta Hydrochimica et Hydrobiologica 21(1), 38–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowers, M. C. and Hesterberg, J. H.: 1976, ‘Environmental implications of highway agents on white pine in Marquette County, Michigan’, Michigan botanist 15(2), pp. 75–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowser, C. J.: 1992, ‘Groundwater pathways for chloride pollution of lakes’, in F. M. D’Itrie (ed), Chemical Deicers and the Environment, Boca Raton, Florida: Lewis Publishing, pp. 283–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brenner, M. V. and Horner, R. R.: 1992, ‘Effects of calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) on DO in natural waters’, Resources, Conservation and Recycling 7, 239–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Briggins, D. and Walsh, J.: 1989, ‘The environmental implications of road salting in Nova Scotia’, Nova Scotia department of the environment and Nova Scotia department of transportation and communication.

  • Buttle, J. M. and Labadia, C. J.: 1999, ‘Deicing salt accumulation and loss in highway snow banks’, Journal of Environmental Quality 28(1), 155–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conolly, J. P., Paquin, P. R., Mulligan, T. J., Wu, K. B. and Davanzo, L.: 1990, ‘ Calcium magnesium acetate biodegradation and its impact on surface waters’, Proceedings of Environmental impact of Highway de-icing publication.33, University of California, Institute of Ecology, Davis, 140–155.

  • Cornell, J. S., Pillard, D. A. and Hernandez, M. J.: 2000, ‘Comparative measures of the toxicity of component chemicals in aircraft deicing fluid’, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19(6), 1465–1472.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corsi, S. R., Booth, N, L. and Hall, D. W.: 2001, ‘Aircraft and runway deicers at general Mitchell international airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.1.Biochemical oxygen demand and dissolved oxygen in receiving streams’, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20(7), 1474–1482.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crowther, R. A. and Hynes, H. B. N.: 1977, ‘The effects of road deicing salt on the drift of stream benthos’, Environmental Pollution 14, 113–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Itri, F. M.: 1992, Chemical Deicers and the Environment, Boca Raton, Lewis Publishing, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Defourny, C.: 2000, ‘Environmental risk assessment of deicing salts’, World salt Symposium, 8th The Hague, Netherlands 2, 767–770.

  • Demers, C. L. and Sage, W. R.: 1990, ‘Effects of road deicing salt on chloride levels in Four Adirondack streams’, Water, Air and Soil pollution 49, 369–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diment, W. H., Bubeck, R. C. and Deck, B. L.: 1973, ‘Some effects of deicing salts on Irondequoit Bay and its drainage basin’, Highway Research Record 425, 23–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doudoroff, P.: 1976, ‘Toxicity to fish of cyanides and related compounds: A review’, USEPA (Environmental Protection Agency), 600/3-76-038, US, Duluth, Minnesota.

  • Enick, K. M.: 1995, ‘The use of calcium magnesium acetate as an alternative deicer on Saskatchewan highways’, A project report, Regional Environmental System Engineering, Regina, Saskatchewan.

  • Environmental Protection Agency Water quality Research: 1971, ‘Environmental Impact of Highway Deicing’, Water Pollution Control Research Series, 11040 GKK 06/71.

  • Field, R. and O’shea, M. L.: 1992, ‘The USEPA research program on the Environmental impacts and control of highway deicing salt pollution’, in F. M. D’Itrie (ed), Chemical Deicers and the Environment Boca Raton, Florida: Lewis Publishing, pp. 117–133.

  • Field, R., Struzeski, J. E., Masters, E. H. and Tafuri, N. A.: 1975, ‘Water pollution and associated effects from street salting’, Water pollution control in low-density areas: Proceedings of a rural environment engineering conference, 317–340.

  • Foos, A.: 2003, ‘ Spatial distribution of road salt contamination of natural springs and seeps, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA’, Environmental Geology 44(1), 14–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fritzsche, C. J.: 1992, ‘Calcium magnesium acetate deicer’, Water Environment and Technology 4(1), 44–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gales, E. J. and Vandermuelen, J.: 1992, ‘Deicing chemical use on the Michigan state highway system’, in F. M. D’Itrie (ed), Chemical Deicers and the Environment Boca Raton, Florida: Lewis Publishing, pp. 135–184.

  • Godwin, K. S., Hafner, S. D. and Buff, M. F.: 2003, ‘Long-term trends in sodium and chloride in the Mohawk river, New York; The effect of fifty years of road salt application’, Environmental pollution 124(2), 273–281.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, C. R. and Lubnow, F. S.: 1992, ‘Seasonal influence of calcium magnesium acetate on microbial processes in 10 Northern Californian Lakes’, Resources, Conservation and Recycling 7, 51–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutiw, P. L.: 1998a, ‘Roadside salinity changes by pavement deicer application on a Saskatchewan highway’, A Master of Applied Science thesis, Environmental Systems Engineering Department, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan.

  • Gutiw, P. L. and Jin, Y. C.: 1998b, ‘Roadside salinity changes generated by pavement deicing practices on a Saskatchewan highway’, Proceedings of an international Symposium, Helsinki, Finland, Oct 14–16, 23–30.

  • Hanes, R. E., Zelazny, L. W. and Blaser, R. E.: 1970, ‘Effects of deicing salts on water quality and Biota-literature review and recommended research’, National co-operative Highway research program report 91, Highway Research Board, National Research council, Washington, D.C, 47–65.

  • Harold, V. and Jones, B. S.: 1986, ‘Computer simulation of snowmelt and quantity’, A Master of Science thesis, Department of Civil Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

  • Hartwell, S. I., Jordahl, M. D., Evans, J. E. and May, E. B.: 1995, ‘Toxicity of aircraft deicers and antiicer solutions to aquatic organisms’, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 14(8), 1375–1386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, R. R. and Brenner, M. V.: 1992, ‘Environmental evaluation of calcium magnesium acetate for highway deicing applications’, Resources, Conservation and Recycling 7, 213–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, K. W. F. and Livingstone, S.: 2000, ‘Transport of urban contaminants into Lake Ontario via subsurface flow’, Urban Water 21, 183–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, P. H. and Jeffrey, B. A.: 1992, ‘Environmental impact of road salting’, in F. M. D’Itrie (ed), Chemical Deicers and the Environment Boca Raton, Florida: Lewis Publishing, pp. 1–97.

  • Judd, J. H.: 1970, ‘Lake stratification caused by runoff from street deicing’, Water Research 4, 521–532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, C. F., Norton, S. A., Fernandez, I. and Katz, L. E.: 1999, ‘Deconstruction of the chemical effects on road salt on stream water chemistry’, Journal of Environmental Quality 28(1), 82– 91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, T., Snodgrass, W. J. and Morin, D.: 1999, ‘Spatial characterization of the occurrence of road salts and their environmental concentrations as Chlorides in Canadian surface waters and Benthic sediments’, Water Quality Research Journal of Canada 34(4), 545–574.

    Google Scholar 

  • McBean, E. and Al-Nassri, S.: 1987, ‘Migration pattern of deicing salts from roads’, Journal of Environmental Management 25, 231–238.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonell, J. J. and Colin, H. T.: 1987, ‘Surface and subsurface water contributions during snowmelt in a small preambrian shield watershed, Muskoka, Ontario’, Atmosphere-Ocean 25(3), 251– 266.

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarland, B. L. and O’, Reilly, K. T.: 1992, ‘Environmental impact and toxicological characteristics of calcium magnesium acetate’, in F. M. D’Itrie (ed), Chemical Deicers and the Environment Boca Raton, Florida: Lewis Publishing, pp. 194–227.

  • Moran, V. M.: 1992, ‘A comparison of conventional and alternative deicers: An Environmental impact perspective’, in F. M. D’Itrie (ed), Chemical Deicers and the Environment Boca Raton, Florida: Lewis Publishing, pp. 341–361.

  • Muehring, D.: 1997, ‘Pollution by urban snowmelt and its impact on receiving waters’, A Master of Science thesis, Department of Civil Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

  • Murray, D. M.: 1977, ‘Economic analysis of the {environmental impact of highway deicing salts}’, Transportation Research Record 847, 29–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Novotny, V.: 1986, ‘Effect of pollutants from snow and ice on quality of water from urban drainage basins’, A report to the National Science Foundation, NTIS PB 87 162509/AS. Department of Civil Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

  • Novotny, V.: 1998, ‘Cyanide and metal pollution by urban snowmelt: Impact of deicing compounds’, Water Science and Technology 38(10), 223–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Novotny, V.: 1999, ‘Urban and highway snowmelt: Minimizing the impact on receiving water’, Water Environment Research Foundation.

  • Oberts, G. L.: 1986, ‘Pollutants associated with sand and salt applied to roads in Minnesota’, Water Resources Bulletin 22(3), 479–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien, J. E. and Majewski, J. C.: ‘Effects of deicing salt on groundwater characteristics’, Environmental Letters 8(4), 303–313.

  • Ohno, T.: 1990, ‘Levels of total cyanide and sodium in surface water adjacent to road salt storage facilities’, Environmental pollution 67(2), 123–132.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olson, A. C. and Ohno, T.: 1989, ‘Determination of free cyanide levels in surface and ground waters affected by highway salt storage facilities in Maine’, Proceedings focus conference on Easter regional ground water issues, 17–19.

  • Ostendorf, D. W., Peeling, D. C., Mitchell, T. J. and Pollock, S. J.: 2001, ‘Chloride persistence in a deiced access road drainage system’, Journal of Environmental quality 30(5), 1756–1770.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paschka, M. G., Ghosh, R. S. and Dzombak, D. A.: 1999, ‘Potential water-quality effects from iron cyanide anticaking agents in road salt’, Water Environment Research 71(6), 1235–1239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierstorff, B. W. and Bishop, P. L.: 1980, ‘Water pollution from snow removal operations’, Journal of the Environmental Engineering division 106(EE2), 377–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollock, S. J. and Toler, L. G.: 1973, ‘Effects of highway deicing salts on groundwater and water supplies in Massachusetts’, Highway Research Board 425, 17–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Runge, I., Wright, R. M. and Urish, D. W.: 1989, ‘Modelling {sodium and chloride in a surface streams during base flows}’, 115(3), 608–619.

  • Ruth, O.: 2003, ‘The effects of deicing in Helsinki urban streams, southern Finland’, Water science and technology 48(9), 33–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schraufnagel, F. G.: 1967, ‘Pollution aspects associated with chemical deicing’, Highway Research Record 193, 22–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, W. S.: 1980, ‘Road salt movement into 2 Toronto streams’, Journal of the Environmental Engineering Division 106(EE3), 547–560.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, W. S.: 1981, ‘An analysis of factors influencing deicing salt levels in streams’, Journal of Environmental Management 13, 269–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, W. S. and Wylie, N. P.: 1980, ‘The environmental effects of snow dumping: A literature Review’, Journal of Environmental Management 10, 219–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanley, J. B.: 1994, ‘Effects of ion exchange on stream solute fluxes in a basin receiving highway deicing salts’, Journal of Environmental Quality 23(5), 974–986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sills, R. D. and Blakeslee, P. A.: 1992, ‘The environmental impact of deicers in airport storm water runoff’, in F. M. D’Itrie (ed), Chemical Deicers and the Environment Boca Raton, Florida: Lewis Publishing, pp. 323–340.

  • Turnbull, D. A. and Bevan, J. R.: 1995, ‘The impact of airport deicing on a river’, The case of the Ouseburn, New castle upon Tyne’, Environmental pollution 88(3), 321–332.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Voorde, V. H., Nijs, M. and Dijck, P. J. V.: 1973, ‘Effects of road salt in winter’, Environmental Pollution 5(3), 213–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox, D. A.: 1986, ‘The effects of deicing salts on water chemistry in Pinhook bog, Indiana’, Water Resources Bulletin 22(1), 57–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinger, I. and Delisle, C. E.: 1988, ‘Quality of used-snow discharged in the St.Lawerence River, in the region of the Montreal harbour’, Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 39, 47–57.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thiruvenkatachari Viraraghavan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ramakrishna, D.M., Viraraghavan, T. Environmental Impact of Chemical Deicers – A Review. Water Air Soil Pollut 166, 49–63 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-005-8265-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-005-8265-9

Keywords

Navigation