These days
you can buy a variety of products to make your route less
icy. Each is made of different chemicals, functions
slightly differently, and varies in its ability to keep
the ground free of snow and ice. They also vary
in their impact on the environment.
Common
ice-melting products include rock salt (sodium
chloride), urea, sand, sand-and-salt mixtures, ashes,
kitty litter, calcium chloride, calcium magnesium
acetate, magnesium chloride, potassium acetate, and Ice
Ban. Mixtures of these products are also often used.
Using any of these products has its pros and cons. For example,
some products work better than others at lower
temperatures, others are particularly expensive, some
must be frequently applied, and some even make the
ground slippery.
Each
ice-melting product impacts
the surrounding environment differently -- including the
soil, plants, bridges, sidewalks and automobiles. For
instance, some products harden the soil and make it too
salty for plants to maintain their water balance. Other
products overload the area
with nutrients. Still others lower the oxygen levels in
nearby streams and ponds
(dangerous for aquatic wildlife). Finally, there are
some products that speed-up the deterioration of concrete,
roadways, bridges and cars.
So what
do we do in the face of all these variables?
Prioritize the pros and cons
of the products, then use this knowledge at the check-out
counter. And, tell your friends and neighbors why you
chose your product.
Learn
more here:
ice-melt mixes tested, the product
to least damage the
environment includes these active
ingredients:
Magnesium chloride hexahydrate, calcium chloride
(2-3%),
potassium chloride (0.5-1%), sodium chloride (0.5-1%).
2)
Here
are several ice-melting ideas & background info.
3)
Advice
from the Biodiversity Project and American Rivers.
4)
A webpage covering how the chemicals work and what their
effects
are on the natural and
built environments.
5)
Learn more about the effects of road
salt.
Another article.
