Remember when you found the perfect pair of UGG boots on Black Friday only for them to get ruined by the end of the season from rock salt? Are you worried that your car will be rusty by the end of the winter? Or for those who are environmentally conscious, have you ever wondered about the impact that current snow removal methods have on the environment? Novel biological and ecological approaches to substitute brine solutions of rock salt with a mixture of beet juice have proven both cost-effective and environmentally sound.

Traditional methods to remove snow and ice from roadways involves the spraying of a combination of brine (salt water) and rock salt solution. For you non-science students, the application of this solution lowers the freezing point, thus allowing melting to occur below freezing. So, now that the boring stuff is over, you may be wondering where the brine solution actually comes from. Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is taking place in the Northeast, and some of the wastewater (rock salts and carcinogens like benzene and formaldehyde) is processed to use as brine.

If we ignore the fact that potential carcinogens are being applied to roadways and sidewalks, and talk strictly on the environmental impact of the salt itself, a larger issue emerges. In studies done by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and Cornell University, it was shown that high concentrations of sodium and chloride (common table salt) are found in pockets of groundwater. This “legacy effect” of salt means that concentrations of both the surface and groundwater will increase, causing ecological and societal consequences.

Salt used on roadways corrodes metal and concrete, damages vegetation in close proximity to roadways and contaminates large sources of water (lakes, streams and reservoirs). Since it takes years for salt levels to be flushed out of the watershed, concentrations may still rise, even with advances in efficiency.

An unlikely solution to this problem deals with the application of a beet juice concentrate in lieu of brine. Though rock salt is still used in conjunction with the beet solution, there is less of a risk of ecological contamination as the sugar from the beet juice binds rock salt to surfaces more efficiently. The corrosive effects of rock salt, as shown in the aforementioned studies, have reduced to 80 percent with the addition of the beet juice.

Moreover, research has shown that lower masses of rock salt can be used in conjunction with the beet juice solution, and be just as effective in melting ice and snow. This results in a reduction of chloride from the environment, which further prevents harmful ions from entering underground water sources. Additionally, by purchasing beet juice concentrates in bulk, companies actually save money, since less salt (up to nine times less) needs to be applied.

As concerned yet curious Binghamton University students, we inquired about how different agencies on campus are doing their part to reduce their environmental impact on campus. We started by asking the staff at the E.W. Heier Teaching & Research Greenhouses about pesticide use. The staff was friendly and told us how they were integrating natural predators to combat insect damage, and referred us to Physical Facilities with specific chemicals that the campus uses. When we asked the receptionist about any staff member who would be well equipped to answer our inquiries, we were referred to Environmental and Health Safety (EHS).

Upon arriving to EHS, we were not given any definite answers to our questions, and were advised to research off-campus environmental contaminants. EHS cited the fact that all fertilizers, pesticides and rock salt solutions were well within recognized safe ranges, and claimed “everything that [is] use[d] on campus is safe.” EHS also told us that, legally, they did not have to tell us what specific chemicals are used on campus due to federal regulations implemented following 9/11.

We find these practices questionable, and implore campus to become more transparent in discussing what anthropogenic substances are used. We meant no ill intent when going from department to department, and did not seek to metaphorically throw anyone under the bus. Inquiries to campus agencies should not be referred to a chain of command, but rather addressed in the moment. Information on chemicals, pesticides and other anthropogenic chemicals should be posted online, regardless of how safe they are, for the sake of transparency.

Ravneet Dhillon, William Ferrante and Gabriel Valencia are first-year graduate students studying biology.