The first American use of road salt was in New Hampshire in 1938. By 1942, 5,000 tons of salt were used nationwide (Kelly , et.al.). Today, an estimated 15,000,000 tons of salt are used on roads in winter; an increase of 300,000 percent (Kelly, et.al.). Road salt has a detrimental effect on the environment and stopping it is essential to ensure the safety and health of plants, animals and humans. Road salt is a key part of keeping you safe in winter, but it is not safe for the environment. Scientists are looking for alternatives to road salt that are both more effective and safer for the environment. Road salt comes into contact with the natural environment through the melting of snow and ice in water. The salt then flows, with the water, into lakes and streams, habitats and water sources for plants and animals. As cars drive on roads and highways, the rotating wheels spray salt onto plants. Plants sensitive to high amounts of sodium or salt can suffer from potassium deficiency, stunted growth, phosphorus deficiency, toxic amounts of chloride, and premature leaf drop (Gould ). Aquatic plants sensitive to high salt levels are likely to die because the salt absorbs water, causing plant cells to shrivel and die (Gould). When amphibians and other semi-aquatic freshwater organisms swim in salt water, they too shrivel and die, like a slug covered in salt (Siegel). Salt flowing into bodies of water disrupts the food chain and kills thousands of organisms every day. Sodium chloride is the effective ingredient in table salt and road salt (Rastogi). The only difference is that road salt is not filtered or purified. This means they have equivalent effects on your ...... middle of paper ...... Cary Institute of Ecosystem System, 2014. Web. February 27, 2014. “Environmental, health and economic impacts of salt. » New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. State of New Hampshire, 2014. Web. March 4, 2014. “Management practices.” University of Michigan. Regents of the University of Michigan, 2010. Web. March 4, 2014.Rastogi, Nina. “Salt the Earth”. Slate. The Slate Group, 2014. Web. February 28, 2014. Siegel, Lori. “Identifying Hazards Related to Human and Ecological Effects of Sodium Chloride Road Salt.” Reconstruction of I-93. New Hampshire Department of Transportation, 2004. Web. March 4, 2014. Strohl, Daniel. “How exactly does road salt cause cars to rust?.” Hems daily. American City Business Journals, 2012. Web. March 3, 2014. Wenta, Rick and Kirsti Sorsa. “Road Salt Report – 2012”. Public Health: Madison and Dane County. City of Madison, 2014. Web. March 2 2014.