Streusalzverschmutzung

Streusalzverschmutzung, or street salt pollution, refers to the contamination of soil, water, and air caused by the use of salt, primarily sodium chloride, for deicing roads during winter. The salt is applied in large quantities to melt ice and increase traction, but once the temperature rises it dissolves, percolating into surface water, groundwater, and the surrounding soil. This process can displace natural calcium and magnesium ions, leading to a reduction in soil fertility and altering pH levels. In aquatic ecosystems, elevated salinity can damage fish, amphibians, and invertebrates by impairing osmoregulation, disrupting food chains, and reducing habitat suitability. Furthermore, salt runoff may corrode infrastructure, such as bridges, pipelines, and railway tracks, increasing maintenance costs.

The main contributing factors are the high volume of salt needed for effective deicing, the recirculation of brine in the environment, and limited alternatives for aviation, rail, and fleet vehicles. Management practices include the controlled application of salt, the use of lower-salinity alternatives such as calcium magnesium acetate, the installation of gravel mats to absorb and retain brine, and the improvement of drainage systems to reduce surface runoff. Regulatory bodies in many European countries have introduced limits on annual salt applications and standards for acceptable salinity in protected waterways. Research continues on the long-term ecological impacts and the development of more sustainable deicing solutions, such as mechanical plowing, chemical friction enhancers, and the deployment of smart monitoring systems that predict optimal application timings.