Road Salt Declared “toxic” by Environment Canada Report

In December 2001, road salt was declared “toxic” by an extensive Environment Canada and Health Canada assessment report.  The report strongly recommended that road salt be added to the list of toxic substances (Priority Substances List), though it has not yet been done. 

The 2001 Environment Canada and Health Canada assessment report clearly concluded that:  “… road salts that contain inorganic chloride salts with or without ferrocyanide salts are “toxic” as defined in Section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999).”  Read full report: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/contaminants/psl2-lsp2/road_salt_sels_voirie/road_salt_sels_voirie_synopsis_e.html

Once Canadian politicians follow the recommendations of Environment Canada and Health Canada and legislate road salt into the list of toxic substances of The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999, section 76), that designation will allow the federal government to regulate the use of road salts.

Though a voluntary road salt reduction program has been put into place as a result of the 2001 Environment Canada road salt report, the winter of 2007-2008 has seen such high usage that many cities are facing a severe shortage. 

The Toronto Star has reported that the city of Ottawa is the biggest user of road salt in Canada, using between 140,000 to 190,000 tons per year.  Toronto is in second place at 125,000 tons per year (source: http://www.thestar.com/News/article/286504).