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<td>Low/moderate; Will exacerbate scaling; low risk of paste attack</td>
 
<td>Low/moderate; Will exacerbate scaling; low risk of paste attack</td>
 
<td>High: Will initiate corrosion of rebar</td>
 
<td>High: Will initiate corrosion of rebar</td>
<td>Moderate: Excessive chloride loading/metals contaminants; ferrocyanide additives</td>
+
<td>Moderate: Excessive chloride loading/metals contaminants; ferrocyanide additives;  Relative aquatic toxicity: low</td>
 
<td>Low: Leads to reduced abrasives use</td>
 
<td>Low: Leads to reduced abrasives use</td>
 
<td>Moderate/High: Sodium accumulation breaks down soil structure and decreases permeability and soil stability; potential for metals to mobilize</td>
 
<td>Moderate/High: Sodium accumulation breaks down soil structure and decreases permeability and soil stability; potential for metals to mobilize</td>

Revision as of 18:21, 31 December 2020

Table summarizing of properties of deicing agents. Aquatic toxicity is indicated as a relative value comparing the different deicers. See the footnote for more information on toxicity. Adapted from Local Road Research Board, 2012, Ketcham et al., 1996 and Levelton Consultants Ltd., 2008.
Link to this table

td> Relative aquatic toxicity: high
Category Type Lowest Practical Melting Pavement Temperature Potential for corrosion impairment3 Environmental Impact
Atmospheric Corrosion to Metals Concrete Matrix Concrete Reinforcing Water Quality/Aquatic Life Air Quality Soils Vegetation
Chloride Based Deicers Sodium Chloride 15°F High; will initiate and accelerate corrosion Low/moderate; Will exacerbate scaling; low risk of paste attack High: Will initiate corrosion of rebar Moderate: Excessive chloride loading/metals contaminants; ferrocyanide additives; Relative aquatic toxicity: low Low: Leads to reduced abrasives use Moderate/High: Sodium accumulation breaks down soil structure and decreases permeability and soil stability; potential for metals to mobilize High: Spray causes foliage damage; osmotic stress harms roots, chloride toxicosis
Calcium Chloride -20°F High; Will initiate and accelerate corrosion; higher potential for corrosion related to hydroscopic properties Low/moderate; Will exacerbate scaling; low risk of paste attack High: Will initiate corrosion of rebar Moderate: Excessive chloride loading; heavy metal contamination; Relative aquatic toxicity: low-moderate Low: Leads to reduced abrasives use Low/Moderate: Improves soil structure; increases permeability; potential for metals to mobilize High: Spray causes foliage damage; osmotic stress harms roots, chloride toxicosis
Magnesium Chloride -10°F High; Will initiate and accelerate corrosion; higher potential for corrosion related to hydroscopic properties Moderate/high: Will exacerbate scaling; risk of paste deterioration from magnesium High: Will initiate corrosion of rebar, evidence suggest MgCl2 has the highest potential for corrosion of chloride produces Moderate: Excessive chloride loading; heavy metal contamination; Relative aquatic toxicity: moderate Low: Leads to reduced abrasives Low/Moderate: Improves soil structure; increases permeability; potential for metals to mobilize High: Spray causes foliage damage; osmotic stress harms roots, chloride toxicosis
Acetate Based Deicers Calcium Magnesium Acetate 20°F [1] Low/moderate; Potential to initiate and accelerate corrosion due to elevated conductivity Moderate/high: Will exacerbate scaling; risk of pate deterioration from magnesium reactions Low; probably little or no effect High: Organic content leading to oxygen demand; Relative aquatic toxicity: high Low: Leads to reduced abrasives use Low/Moderate: Improves soil structure; increases permeability; potential for metals to mobilize Low: Little or no adverse effect; osmotic stress at high levels
Potassium Acetate -26°F [2] Low/moderate; Potential to initiate and accelerate corrosion due to elevated conductivity [3] Low; probably little or no effect [4] High: Organic content leading to oxygen demand Low: Leads to reduced abrasives use; Relative aquatic toxicity: high
Sodium Acetate 0°F [5]
Carbohydrates Beet Juice NA Low; Potential to initiate and accelerate corrosion due to elevated conductivity clams of mitigation of corrosion require further evaluation Low; Probably little or no effect Low; Probably little or no effect; claims of mitigation of corrosion require further evaluation High Organic matter leading to oxygen demand; nutrient enrichment by phosphorus and nitrogen; heavy metals Low: Leads to reduced abrasive use Low: Probably little or no effect; limited information available Low: Probably little or no effect
Molasses NA
Corn Syrup NA

1For detailed information on aquatic toxicity, see Determining the Aquatic Toxicity of Deicing Materials (Barr Engineering, 2013)