Is the salt used to melt ice safe for the environment and for animals?

It is the same salt (Sodium Chloride) that you put on your food, although it is not "purified" as it is when you by it from the store.

It is a naturally occurring mineral, and is safe for all plants and animals. It does hurt squirrels any more than you would feeding them salted peanuts..

BUT . . . .

too much if it will kill grass and some plants. If you do not get your car cleaned regularly, it will cause your car to rust faster.

Squirrels and things like that won't eat it, any more than you would swallow a tablespoon full of salt.

Some cities also use Potassium Chloride. This doesn't work quite as well as Sodium Chloride, but is safer for grasses and cars.

Pets may be exposed to ice melts that have been spilled, applied to sidewalks, or improperly stored. In 1998, more

than 50 cases of ice-melt exposure were reported to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA APCC

Antox® Database: Unpublished data, 1998). Vomiting - the most prevalent sign - occurred in 30% of the cases.

Other effects included diarrhea, salivation, depression, anorexia, tremors, disorientation, polydipsia, seizures, and

death.

Before initiating treatment for ice-melt ingestion, it’s critical to know the ice melt’s ingredients and the animal’s

health status. Inducing emesis is controversial if the product contains a large percentage of potassium chloride and is

contraindicated in some species and health conditions. For example, rabbits, rodents, and birds don’t vomit, and

poorly controlled epileptics may experience seizures with induction of vomiting and shouldn’t be induced at home.

Activated charcoal doesn’t usually adsorb the salts in ice melts. If an animal has walked through the product, rolled

in it, or placed its face in a bag of ice melt, bathe the animal and monitor it for skin irritation. Also monitor and

correct abnormalities in hydration status, electrolyte concentrations, and heart muscle activity. As mentioned above,

vomiting and diarrhea are the most common side effects, but large ingestions can cause more serious problems.

Many brands of sidewalk ice melts are on the market. The most common ingredients in these ice melts are sodium

chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium carbonate, and calcium magnesium acetate. A few ice

melts contain urea.

...click on the link for more info...

Its not dangerous for animals such as squirrells, dogs, cats and that sort of thing. Its not a poisonous chemical. What it does effect are your local streams/rivers/and other water bodies. The salt goes into storm drains which empty into the water bodies and causes the water to become more saline (salty). Freshwater organisms cant survive in salty water. The salty water pretty much dries them out and kills them.

it can burn a dogs paws if they walk on it too much i know that.