Migration of alternative de-icers in unsaturated zone of aquifers--in vitro study.
The migration of organic de-icers in the shallow aquifers typical in Finland is not well known and we need to find solutions to minimise the negative impacts of de-icing on groundwater quality. The objective of the MIDAS project is to find de-icers which have the least harmful impacts on groundwater quality. Migration of sodium chloride as a tracer and five alternative de-icers in aquifers was studied. The alternative de-icers were calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium-magnesium-acetate, potassium acetate and potassium formate. The research consists of leaching of heavy metals from roadsides in the area of Highway 1 in southern Finland; an in vitro study, which represented the full length of winter at low temperatures; and the subsequent on-going field research in south-eastern Finland. So far, in our studies potassium formate caused fewer changes to the quality of the infiltrated water than the chlorides and acetates. After finishing the on-going research the results will be used to choose a preferred de-icer from the existing chemicals and for the development of new less harmful de-icers. The information will be used mainly in Scandinavia and North America where the hydrogeological conditions are similar to those in Finland.
Hellstén
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P
Research Programme for Environmental Technology, Finnish Environment Institute, P.O. Box 140, 00251 Helsinki, Finland. pasi.hellsten@ymparisto.fi
Nystén
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T
D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005387:Finland; D055593:Geological Phenomena; D005844:Geology; D007053:Ice; D015636:Magnesium Chloride / Q000032:analysis; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014872:Water Movements; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply
D007053:Ice; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014873:Water Pollutants; D015636:Magnesium Chloride; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D002122:Calcium Chloride