Environmental and corrosion effects of different road salts

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Chloride-containing road salts are widely used in Canada during the winter time. However, high chloride concentrations in waterways can destroy the ecosystem by depleting oxygen in the water and elevate the presence of heavy metals via flushing from soils. Also, about 50% of all vehicle corrosion can be attributed to the use of these road salts, which are also causing significant corrosion damage to the transport facilities. There are alternative road salts with comparable or better de-icing performance, however, there is no holistic Canadian study on their corrosion and environmental impact. The main goal of this partnership is to provide a holistic comparison and detailed understanding of different road salts, including two new proprietary salts, in terms of their corrosivity, environmental impact, and ice melting performance. This is achieved by field tests including performance for motorized and for light transportation groups (such as pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchairs) along with a fundamental understanding of corrosion mechanisms of different road salts on relevant construction materials and the behaviour and impacts of these salts as they interact with the adjacent environment. This research will provide 1) industry with an in-depth, multidisciplinary state-of-the art summary on the performance and adverse impacts of existing de-icers in Canada, 2) insights on equitable access to public space and the importance of road salts, and 3) the general public and scientific community with potential benefits of non-toxic road salt alternatives, encouraging greater steps to-wards their deployment across Canada. The impacts of this partnership will be direct and long-term, in terms of economic, environmental, and traffic safety.