Harmful Impacts of Road Salt and Possible Alternatives

Superheroes of Science

Dr. Monika Bleszynski, Research Scientist and Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver, discusses some of the harmful impacts of road salt along with potential alternatives. There are many negative impacts of the bioaccumulation of salt in environments near roadways, including damage to plant life, physiological drought, and the buildup of salt in our water reservoirs. By studying organisms with evolutionary adaptations to produce their own antifreeze proteins, Bleszynski has worked toward the development of safer alternatives to road salt with less harmful environmental consequences.