The Earth Is Getting Saltier And That's Bad News

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Human activities are messing with Earth’s natural salt cycle, and winter weather is one big reason why.

The environment - namely air, soil and water - are getting saltier.

A new research paper published Tuesday in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment is the latest science that links the issue to treating roads with salt in the winter.

“If you think of the planet as a living organism, when you accumulate so much salt it could affect the functioning of vital organs or ecosystems,” lead author and University of Maryland geology professor Sujay Kaushal said in a news release.

T​he U.S. produces more than 40 billion pounds of salty deicing agents each year, according to the study. Road salts accounted for 44% of total salt use nationwide between 2013 and 2017.

The study also points to mining, construction and other

“Salt has a small ionic radius and can wedge itself between soil particles very easily,” Kaushal said. “In fact, that’s how road salts prevent ice crystals from forming.”

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