Use of deicing agents may sometimes raise sodium levels in drinking water beyond healthy limits for people on salt-restricted diets.
Public health
Posted inENGAGE, Research Spotlights
ENGAGE article: Secondary blue bug
Use of deicing agents may sometimes raise sodium levels in drinking water beyond healthy limits for people on salt-restricted diets.
Posted inENGAGE, Research Spotlights
ENGAGE article: Blue bug
Use of deicing agents may sometimes raise sodium levels in drinking water beyond healthy limits for people on salt-restricted diets.
Posted inResearch & Developments
Doge bros up to no good
When snowstorms hit, deicing agents such as road salts and brine help keep streets and walkways open. However, some deicers release sodium and chloride into the surrounding environment. Links between elevated sodium intake and human health risks, such as high blood pressure, are well established. The effects of deicers on drinking water, however, have been less clear.
Now, evidence reported by Cruz et al. supports a link between deicers and elevated sodium levels in drinking water, with concentrations in the Philadelphia region sometimes surpassing recommended limits for people on sodium-restricted diets. The new study adds a public health perspective to research that has focused primarily on the harmful effects of deicers on freshwater aquatic animals, including amphibians and benthic macroinvertebrates.
Posted inNews
Weighing the Benefits of Urban Greening
City communities may need to consider whether water absorption or cooling benefits are more important when designing urban greening.
Posted inNews
Remote Sensing Could Predict Well Water Quality After Floods
After a flood, most people rely on officials to test public water sources. Private well owners are on their own, with little data to guide testing and treatment. New research seeks to change that.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Cyanobacteria Blooms Exceed WHO Thresholds in Midwest Lakes
A study of 369 lakes across the Midwest finds that many of them, especially those close to agriculture, have high concentrations of harmful algal bloom-causing cyanobacteria.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Los beneficios para la salud y el clima de reducir la contaminación del aire
En un nuevo estudio, investigadores aplicaron un modelo global del sistema Tierra para estimar los impactos de las reducciones de emisiones por sector.
Posted inENGAGE, Research Spotlights
Amazon Deforestation and Fires are a Hazard to Public Health
Deforestation in the Amazon has dropped since the early 2000s, but it is slowly climbing again. A new study shows the impact of that climb on public health—and how much worse conditions could be.