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It also has consequences for wildlife. Dr. Hintz said his review shows that high salinity levels in freshwater ecosystems cause a reduction in the abundance and growth of freshwater organisms and a reduction in their reproductive output.

Road salt also erodes vehicles and bridges, causing $5 billion in annual repairs in the United States, according to an estimate by the Environmental Protection Agency. The AAA recommends that drivers wash and clean their vehicles regularly during the winter months to help offset the effects of road salt and limit driving when salt and other de-icing chemicals are in the highest concentrations.

In Britain, the Salt Association said salt is the least expensive form of de-icing material and has a low environmental impact when used responsibly. “As with all highway maintenance activities, winter road maintenance has environmental implications,” the organization said in a statement. “Highway depots, spreading vehicles and de-icing agent all contribute, but with good management this burden can be minimized.”

Alternative methods can reduce damage.

While there is no perfect solution to the problem, there are alternatives that can significantly reduce salt usage without compromising driver safety.

One method, according to the Cary Institute, involves treating roads with a saline solution before storms; This results in a 75 percent reduction in the amount of salt used, while keeping roads just as safe, according to the Cary Institute. Building better salt storage areas can also minimize waste.

Jefferson County, Wis. Some counties have already made changes, such as Bill Kern, the county’s highway commissioner, said the switch to the brine solution has enabled the county to reduce its salt use by up to 60 percent since 2018, without an increase in the number of accidents. Kern said the county has used less salt, reducing the overall cost of winter maintenance of state and county highways by 20 percent since 2018, saving about $1.6 million.

In the past decade, some states, including Rhode Island, have passed laws aimed at reducing road salt use and increasingly applying the saltwater solution to roads during the winter months, but environmentalists say more needs to be done.