The first American use of road salt occurred in New Hampshire in 1938. By 1942, 5,000 tons of salt were used nationwide (Kelly, et.al.). Today it is estimated that 15,000,000 tons of salt are used on roads in the winter; a 300,000% increase (Kelly, et.al.). Road salt is leaving a harmful effect on the environment and its discontinuation is vital to keeping plants, animals and humans safe and healthy. Road salt is a key component for winter safety, but it is not safe for the environment. Scientists are looking for alternatives to road salt that are more effective and safer for the environment. Road salt comes into contact with the natural environment by melting snow and ice into water. The salt then flows, with the water, into lakes and streams, habitats and water sources for both plants and animals. As cars travel along streets and highways, their spinning wheels spray salt on the plants. Plants sensitive to large amounts of sodium or salt may experience potassium deficiency, stunted growth, phosphorus deficiency, toxic amounts of chloride, and premature leaf drop (Gould). Aquatic plants sensitive to high levels of salt are at risk of dying because the salt absorbs the water, causing the plant cells to shrivel and die (Gould). When amphibians and other semiaquatic freshwater organisms swim in salt water, they also shrivel and die, similar to a snail covered in salt (Siegel). Salt flowing into water bodies is disrupting the food chain and killing thousands of organisms every day. Sodium chloride is the effective ingredient in both 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 you...... middle of paper ....... Cary Institute of Ecosystem System, 2014. Web. 27 Feb 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. “Hazard Identification for 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?” Hemmings Daily. Business Journals of American Cities, 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.