EARLY HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 2-5, 2021

(Virtually the same conference, without elevators, airplane tickets, or hotel room keys)

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5/25/2021  |   8:30 AM - 10:30 AM   |  SALTY SUMMERTIME STREAMS: ESTIMATES OF PERCENT SPECIES IMPACTED AND THREAT TO SPECIES AT RISK FROM ROAD SALT   |  Virtual Platform

SALTY SUMMERTIME STREAMS: ESTIMATES OF PERCENT SPECIES IMPACTED AND THREAT TO SPECIES AT RISK FROM ROAD SALT

Urban freshwaters in north temperate regions exhibit high levels of road salt contamination resulting from extensive use of road de-icing agents and high density of impermeable surfaces within cities. While many field studies of road salt contamination are performed during wintertime, recent studies reveal high chloride concentrations persist year-round. Our study assesses the spatial distribution of chloride in Southern Ontario and quantifies the number of species impacted during the summertime (considered the low season for chloride). Our study results reveal that even in summertime chloride concentrations surpass government guidelines for exposure to freshwater aquatic life. We calculate that at some sites over 2/3 of organisms are impacted by their site-specific chloride concentrations. Summertime is a time of reproduction and growth for many species, and these sensitive life stages are put at risk by elevated chloride levels which can disrupt osmoregulation and be lethal. Moreover, our study region is known as a hot spot for Species at Risk and it is one of the most rapidly urbanizing regions in the world. Therefore, increasing levels of chloride year-round may represent a major factor contributing to the decline of Species at Risk.

  • Urban streams
  • Pollution
  • Biological effects

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Presenters/Authors

Lauren Lawson (), University of Toronto, lauren.lawson@mail.utoronto.ca;


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Donald Jackson (), University of Toronto, don.jackson@utoronto.ca;


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