road salt

Road salt (also known as de-icing salt, rock salt, or snow salt) is a salt used mainly as an anti-slip agent in winter road conditions, but also to prevent dust and snow build-up on roads. Various kinds of salts are used as road salt, but calcium chloride and sodium chloride (rock salt) are among the most common. The more expensive magnesium chloride is generally considered safer, but is not as widely used because of its cost and effect on structural integrity. When used in its solid form, road salt is often pre-wet to accelerate the ice-melting process. Road salts have been having adverse effects on the environment, including decreasing biodiversity, contaminating of water sources, and increasing soil salinity.

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