5 Ways In Which Rock Salt Is Harming You

Salt is one of the most popular methods to clear snow and ice. However, popularity doesn’t mean it’s the best way to get rid of slippery layers of ice. Though it’s good at melting snow and ice, it poses some health concerns to humans and animals. 

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Here are 5 ways in which rock salt might be harming you and your family-

1. Driveway:

Slip and fall accidents are quite common in winter months due to slick surfaces.

Many people choose to apply rock salt to their concrete steps or pavement. However, these are not safe salt for concrete and can cause concrete to become damaged over time.

Using salt to melt ice regularly pits the cement used for our walkways, steps, and other concrete areas. Once the cement pits, it will eventually crack or cause potholes on your surface.

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2. Children:

Children come into contact with salt-based pellets while playing in the snow. These products can irritate eyes and accidentally ingesting them can cause stomach problems and kidney damage. Direct contact with the skin can lead to dermatitis, rashes, and blistering.

3. Pets:

For dogs, in particular, exposure to salt-based ice melters can mean an unhealthy winter and unplanned trips to the veterinarian. The salts get frozen into the dog’s paws and fur.

When they are inside with higher temperatures, these salts can burn the skin causing ulcers and redness to tissue which can lead to bacterial infections. Dogs can also develop intestinal problems and inflammation of the stomach (gastritis) from licking the salt-based products off their paws.

4. Property:

Salt residue left over from these products causes permanent damage to pavers, asphalt, concrete, wood decks, floors, and rugs. 

5. Environment:

Salt seeps into groundwater supplies or gets washed into lakes and streams and harms aquatic wildlife. Salt-based ice melters also erode soil, kill plants, burn grasses, and poison birds.

Wondering about the environmental impact of rock salt, or halite, as it’s geologically known? Let’s dive into what this means for your environment and why you might want to rethink that bag of salt before the next big freeze.

Halite—the rock-hard truth is, while it’s super effective at melting ice, it’s not always playing nice with the environment. Did you know that when you sprinkle rock salt on your icy driveway, it doesn’t just vanish with the snow? Nope, it hangs around, and the consequences are, well, a bit salty. As it dissolves, it can sneak into the soil, leading to soil contamination, which is a fancy way of saying it makes it tough for plants to suck up water and nutrients.

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Now, let’s talk effective de-icing. Sure, rock salt works, melting away that slippery ice underfoot, but at what cost? It’s like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut—overkill much? Plus, that residual salt isn’t just rough on your garden; it can leach into nearby waterways, affecting aquatic life. Imagine turning your local stream into a salt bath—not ideal for the fish, right?

And then there’s your concrete. If you’ve ever wondered why the driveway starts looking like a moonscape after a few winters, blame the salt. That constant freeze-thaw cycle that salt promotes can seriously play havoc on concrete, leading to cracks and potholes.

So, what’s a frostbitten soul to do? Maybe it’s time to look at alternatives that keep everyone safe—your family, your pets, your plants, and yes, even that concrete driveway. Consider products like Safe Paw, a more environmentally friendly choice that’s tough on ice but not on your surroundings. It’s a win-win, keeping you upright without turning your backyard into a salty wasteland.

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Conclusion

Now that you know the dangers of using a salt-based snow melter salt around your property, you must choose wisely. Many times, we ignore these salt hazards when buying ice melt and end up dumping toxic chemicals around our kids, pets, and plants. 

However, if you’re looking for an ice melt safe for concrete or an ice melt that won’t damage concrete then you must stop using salt right away.

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