Environmental Impact of Chemical Deicers – A Review

Authors: Ramakrishna, Devikarani¹; Viraraghavan, Thiruvenkatachari²

Source: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, Volume 166, Numbers 1-4, September 2005 , pp. 49-63(15)

Publisher: Springer

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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.

Keywords: road salts; chemical deicers; surface water; groundwater; soils; impacts

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11270-005-8265-9

Affiliations: 1: Faculty of Engineering, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada, 2: Faculty of Engineering, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada, Email: t.viraraghavan@uregina.ca

Publication date: 2005-09-01